The arrival is expected in about two hours, with less than 90 kilometers to go. But the finish line of the third stage of the Tour de France in Turin is already populated with eagerly awaiting enthusiasts. A crowd preparing to welcome the group that left Piacenza this morning to tackle the 231 kilometers of the third stage, the longest of the Tour.
Last minutes of waiting before the Tour passes (photo Alberto Giachino)
This year the Grande Boucle brought hundreds of fans in yellow jerseys to the city, including European tourists and Turin enthusiasts. It is the fifth time in the history of the Tour that the Piedmontese capital welcomes the end of a stage, and the energy among the public can be felt. Almost everyone agrees on one fact: «Pogačar? He is the best, I have never seen an athlete like him.”
Last minutes of waiting near the finish line before the Tour passes (photo Alberto Giachino)
Emanuele Coppola, 25 years old, thinks so, but he is not the only one. Here we anxiously await the Slovenian phenomenon, who for now holds the yellow jersey. But there is no shortage of those who think that someone else will triumph: «Pogačar won’t win this year» says Vincenzo Allara, 86 years old, a historical memory of the Tour, riding his bicycle at the side of the track. Regardless of the predictions, the passion and warmth of a Turin where the passion for two wheels is more alive than ever remains.
