Winning path, no changes. And so the 85th edition of Tour of the Apennines gives to enthusiasts, Sunday 14 Julythe eleventh arrival in via XX Settembre 25 years after the first one which concluded the race in 1999. It reconfirms the transition to Guard for the fourth consecutive year after the crowd success of the previous editions. And it replicates the departure from Arquata Scrivia which last year “adopted” the US Pontedecimo Ciclismo race with great enthusiasm for the first time.
A race of almost 200 very nervous kilometers with 2,800 meters of altitude difference. After the meeting in Arquata Scrivia there will be the transfer to the Elah Dufour Novi factory in Novi Ligure where the official departure will take place. After passing in front of the Campionissimi Museum in Novi and Pasturana, theaters of many rallies in recent editions, we will enter the heart of the race. The Castagnola Pass after 55 km will be the first difficulty of the day. After Giovi and Crocetta d’Orero the decisive part of the race will come: first the hairpin bends along the Nozzle with slopes even at 18%. Then at Pietralavezzara you will turn left to go, after the descent towards Isoverde, to face the Guardia: slopes of 7 and 8% to reach the 500 meter wall with slopes of 21% in the Lencisa area. Swooping descent towards Genoa with passage under the Ponte San Giorgio, flyover and then grand finale in via XX Settembre. Five GPM for a total height difference of 2800 metres. The highest peak of the race is located at Guardia at 733 meters. There are 141 km in the metropolitan city of Genoa, equal to 71% of the total.
Flying finish lines: prizes will be distributed to the top five but by virtue of the overall finish line ranking. The best overall placing at the 85th Tour of the Apennines added to the 61st Laigueglia Trophy will award the Challenge Liguria to its seventh edition.
Among the teams at the start, the participation of the UCI Worldteams of the UAE Team Emirates (which will have the number 1 number, having won in 2023), the Astana Qazaqstan Team, the Arkea-B&B Hotels and among the UCI Proteams the Italian professional Polti are certain. Kometa, VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè and Corratec-Vini Fanini. The Giro dell’Appennino celebrates 90 years this year by being part of the flagship events of Genoa European Capital of Sport 2024.
