Thursday 11 April 2024 – 7.30pm
Great cycling returns to Pontedera, thanks to Juventus Lari, chaired by Antonio Giuntini, who organizes theeighth edition of the City of Pontedera Grand Prixmen’s road race scheduled for Saturday 13 April and reserved for Elite and Under23 amateurs, on a distance of 166 kilometers for a route that follows that of 2023, with passages also at high altitude. The departure and arrival, as per tradition, are on straight line of via de Gasperi in Pontedera.
“Ecofor is particularly keen to maintain an initiative which, this year, has reached its eighth edition and which is combined with the next competition May 18th in Lari – commented Rossano SignoriniCEO of the Pontedere-based company that supports the organization of the race – in total, there are 196 registeredwhich they refer to 33 teams including 9 Continental“.
The start of the race is scheduled for 12.50 at the Bellaria sports centre: from there the runners will head to the Municipalities of Casciana Terme-Lari And Palaiato pedal on a first circuit which also includes a passage to Capannoli. Subsequently, the group will return towards Pontedera completing four laps on another 29 kilometer circuit which includes transit from Romito, Saint Andrew, Forcoli, Montacchita, The route and three passes from via De Gasperi, before arrival, expected between 4.40pm and 5.15pm.
“In support of US Juventus Lari GS Bellaria will also be there – said the vice president of the Larigian company, Mauro Sardelli – which in addition to logistics, will also assist us in the starting and finishing phases, on a route that will be the same because it is also very popular with the runners. The technical commissioner of our national team will also be present at the race, Daniele Bennati“.
Also collaborates in the organizationNuova Primavera Association of Forcoliwhich offers 2 Mountain Grand Prix, named after the two great sportsmen from Forcole: Flaminio Giusti And Luigi Giannoni.
Among the teams present there will also be AR Monex Pro Cycling, team Mexican, driven today by Peteris Ugriumovfirst a Soviet and then a Latvian cyclist who in 1994 managed to win two consecutive stages at the Tour de France, beating Marco Pantani uphill and Miguel Indurain in the time trial, then finishing in second place, behind Indurain himself.
The Mexicans are particularly aggressive and under the guidance of Ugrjumov they will certainly contribute to making the race spectacular as well as making life difficult for them. Matteo Baseggio of UC Trevigiano Energiapura Marchiol, solo winner of last year’s edition. In total, there are two foreign teams: the aforementioned AR Monex Pro Cycling and the Velo Club Mendrisio Immoprograma renowned Swiss company that in the past has seen top riders such as Michael Albasini, Steve Morabito and Ivan Santaromita, Italian road champion in 2013, pass through its ranks.
In addition to the winner of last edition, his teammate has also signed up Gianluca Cordioliwho came second in 2023, and Francesco Di Felice of GS Maltinti Lampadari Banca Cambiano, winner of the 2019 edition and third in 2022. “We hope to do well, we are aiming for an excellent result – commented the latter – it is a path that suits me and about ten days ago I became a father: I would like to dedicate the victory to my son. The level, however, will certainly be high: It’s a good test“.
“Pontedera has grown a lot in the cycling sector – concluded the councilor Mattia Belli – In addition to City of Pontedera Grand Prix, Indeed the next events will also give great importance to the city: I think of Tour of Tuscany next September 14th, but also at passage of the Giro Italia 2024, which will pass through Gello on May 9th. For the future, therefore, we are ready to host a stage of the Corsa Rosa or the Tirreno Adriatico in our municipality again.”
