A comerte at the Giro d’Italia: Giulio Pellizzari’s great chance

Of Marco Pagliariccio

Last year it was the turn of Corridonian Eleonora Ciabocco to celebrate her first time at the Giro d’Italia. Tomorrow it will be the turn of Giulio Pellizzari from Cameroon to enter the Corsa rosa for the first time. The 21-year-old from F Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizané will in fact be at the starting line of the 107th edition of the competition and is certainly among the most interesting emerging riders on the national scene.

The exploit that put all eyes on him was last year at the Tour de l’Avenirthe version of the Tour de France reserved for Under 23s which in recent years has christened the explosion of all the greats of contemporary cycling: Pellizzari, in fact, finished in second place in the general classification just 1’13” behind the winner, the Mexican Isaac Del Toro, taking away the satisfaction of even winning a stage. In the first part of this season, however, you showed excellent things at the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali, finishing in 15th place, but above all at the Tour of the Alps three weeks ago, in which he achieved 8th place in the general classification (putting himself behind giants such as Geraint Thomas, Esteban Chaves and Sergio Higuita) and finished in 2nd place in the 3rd stage, beaten only by the former pink jersey Juanpe Lopez.

Pellizzari on the trail of 2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas

Obviously he will be at the Giro d’Italia without any particular pressure, but to accumulate experience and perhaps attempt a coup in some stage suited to his characteristics as a climber. Also because there would already be several World Tour teams on the trail of the cyclist originally from Camerino, with a view to 2025. «Giulio is a young cyclist who grew up on the streets of Camerino since he was a child, it is a pride that he gets to take part in the most important stage race in Italy and among the most prestigious in the world – says Camerte regional councilor Gianluca Pasqui – we will all cheer for him, also trying to convey to him the enthusiasm of our territory. I am sure that for him the Giro d’Italia will be just a starting point for a career full of successes and satisfactions, fully deserved by the sacrifices he had to face to get here.”

The passage of the Giro d’Italia to Civitanova in 2022

The pink caravan this year will not touch Camerino, but will pass through at least another city that is significant for its growth: Foligno, where it took its first steps among the greats with the UC Foligno shirt. The 7th stage, next Friday, will in fact be a time trial entirely in Umbria, starting right from the center at the foot of Mount Subasio and arriving in Perugia. However, there will also be an (almost) entirely Marche stage: the Martinsicuro-Fano, stage number 12 of the pink race, scheduled for Thursday 16 May. The stage will also touch the Macerata area, arriving in Civitanova coming from the south on the Adriatica state road and then climbing along the hills of Montecosaro, Morrovalle and Montelupone until arriving in Recanati, where a mountain Grand Prix will be located. From there the caravan will continue northwards to the finish line in Fano. A stage suitable for escapes and coups, perhaps even those of someone like Pellizzari.