Gianni Bugno and Claudio “El Diablo” Chiappucci made a generation dream, a generation that followed his exploits with radios in hand, mostly on the tour of Italy. It was therefore fitting that they, and precisely the two of them, inaugurated the official events that will accompany the arrival of the tour in Foiano di Valfortore.
The former world champion in fact he explains: “IThe Giro is a beautiful event which attracts a large audience. There has always been a great passion for cycling in these parts and it’s nice to be back. It’s a sport that reaches the homes of normal people, you can watch it from home or on the road: here we are in a beautiful area, without a meter of plain, it will be fun.”
And on the Italian moment: “We are in difficulty but we hope that someone arrives capable of replacing the last great ones. Pogacar? A phenomenon, no doubt”.
And Chiappucci: “It’s important that cycling always gives emotions: it’s a street sport and brings everyone together. We are in a country little known to most and something gigantic like the Giro d’Italia arrives: the beauty of it is precisely this. You can see the cyclist on their roads and this gives many emotions. In Italy? Different eras compared to when Gianni and I raced, cycling has also changed, the instinct and naturalness of the athlete has faded a bit, the emotion is also a bit missing. Pogacar remembers Merckx? It’s a big word. I wouldn’t compare him: Merckx was a strong character, Pogacar is a phenomenon but I don’t know if he has the character of a cannibal.”
A tour that has been missing in the Fortore for years, as documented by Marco Lobasso, author of the book “the tour of the Fortore”: “It was a lot of fun covering the Giro which passes through this beautiful valley. We discovered that the Giro passed through the Fortore three times in the 1930s, bringing here champions of the caliber of Girardengo, Binda, Guerra or editors of the Gazzetta such as Colombo, or characters of the caliber of Felice Scandone. Remember that it was necessary to write because the Fortore tour is a beautiful event. Cycling remains a celebration, just look at what is happening here in Foiano, regardless of the fact that the champions are non-Italians. It’s nice that Fortore can be filmed for hours on TV from all over the world.”
And the mayor of Foiano Giuseppe Ruggiero: “Let’s start immediately with a bang with the events that will accompany the arrival of the Giro d’Italia: Bugno and Chiappucci made all of us dream, glued to the TV to cheer for them. We present a book that reminds us that 91 years ago the Giro was already a Fortore heritage. Cycling is the only sport that meets citizens, you don’t have to pay a ticket to see it: it arrives in Fortore, demonstrating the weight and importance it has for the whole nation. We need demonstrations, but some more important body must accompany us on this journey.”
The president of the Stage Committee, Paolo Serino, was then visibly emotional: “The protagonist for the preparatory work done is the mayor of Foiano Peppe Ruggiero: without his work and his iron will this opportunity would not have been had. I was happy to help him: it’s the fourth time I’ve taken care of the tour and I’m proud of it. What is the tour around Sannio? Everything: it is a global event that brings economy, public interest and all the related things.” He doesn’t go too far on the prediction, but even Serino, with the microphones turned off, goes too far: “Of course that Pogacar…”
