The official departure ceremony of 111th Tour de France it was taken at 12.21 in a packed yellow Piazza della Signoria: the 176 runners They were greeted by a roar and the notes first of the French anthem and then of the Italian one.
At the ribbon cutting, in front of the Loggia dei Lanzi, the prince Albert of Monaco the president of the Tuscany Region Eugenio Gianithe new mayor of Florence Sara Funaro and the former mayor Dario Nardella who then got on the flagship together with the director of the Tour, Christian Preudhomme.
“Today Florence and Tuscany are experiencing a great celebration and a huge emotion. It is a historic moment, let’s enjoy this occasion to the fullest” Like this President Giani in a packed Piazza della Signoria.
The departure of the Tour de France from Piazza della Signoria
From Piazza della Signoria to Viola Park
Then amidst applause Pogacar and colleagues went towards Ponte Vecchio, on the Arengario fireworks and at full volume ‘Bicycle‘ by Queen. In front of the Viola Parkthe Fiorentina sports center the official start of the first stage, Florence-Rimini. The presidents were there to greet them during the passage Giani and Mazzeo and the new mayor of Bagno a Ripoli Francesco Pignotti.
“Florence and Tuscany – continues Giani – are at the center of the largest cycling event and cycling has a historical and indissoluble bond with our region, cemented by the memory of the exploits of Tuscans who made this sport great, first of all Gino Bartali, but also Gastone Nencini, Alfredo Martini, Paolo Bettini, Franco Ballerini, without forgetting the current Italian champion Alberto Bettiol”.
The new mayor Funaro with the president Giani
Tuscany, land of cyclists: from Bartali to Martini
From Bagno a Ripoli the cyclists in the race continued in the direction Pontassieve, Rufina and Dicomanoto then head towards Emilia Romagna climbing the Tre Faggi Pass on the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines to head towards Rimini, which they will reach after a 206 km route and 4000 m of altitude difference.
“This is a beautiful day for Florence, for Bagno a Ripoli and for all of Tuscany, which has always been a land of cycling” commented the president of the regional council, Antonio Mazzeo.
“It is a real popular festival, Tuscany is a land of cycling and today it was tinged with the yellow of the most important stage race in world cycling. I am thinking at this moment of our riders like Gino Bartali, Gastone Nencini, of Alfredo Martini, who as technical commissioner was able to win six world championships on the road. Long live the Tour de France and long live Tuscany”concluded Mazzeo.
