The Gold Cup follows the wind of the Tour: on June 24th in Piacenza the cyclists who have made the history of this sport in Italy will be rewarded. The presentation of the 16th edition of the “Golden Cup” Award, which this year takes inspiration from the Tour de France, was held in the council room in the Town Hall. For the first time in history, in 120 years, the 2024 Tour de France will start from Italy, also crossing Emilia Romagna. Piacenza, in particular, will host the start of the third stage of the Tour and the Consorzio di Tutela Salumi DOP Piacentini wants to participate in the approach to the “magic” day with its most important event “Coppa D’Oro”.
Among the key events is the presentation of the “Coppa d’Oro” award scheduled for June 24th from 3.30 pm at Palazzo Gotico. Personalities from the cycling world who need no introduction will receive recognition.
Vincenzo Nibali
Considered one of the strongest and most complete Italian champions of all time. At international level he was one of seven cyclists to have won at least one edition of all three Grand Tours, having won the Vuelta a España in 2010, the Giro d’Italia in 2013 and 2016 and the Tour de France in 2014 Completing an exceptional list of victories are the victories in two monument classics: the Giro di Lombardia, in 2015 and 2017, and the Milan-Sanremo, in 2018. Added to these great victories are two Italian titles in the road race, in 2014 and in 2015. Many other successes have crowned a truly enviable cycling career. He is the last Italian to have won the Tour de France.
Gianni Bugno
A true natural talent of Italian cycling. He was capable of winning the 1990 Tour of Italy wearing the pink jersey from the first to the last stage. Winner for two consecutive years at the Tour de France in the deadly stage arriving at Alpe d’Huez. Winner for two consecutive years in 1991 and 1992 of the World Road Championship in Stuttgart and Benidorm. Also winner of the Milan Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders as well as many other very important successes. Twice he narrowly missed out on success in the Tour de France, second in 1991 and third in 1993 behind Miguel Indurain.
Claudio Chiappucci
El Diablo, this is how Chiappucci is known in the cycling world, precisely because of his impetuous temperament, always on the attack. He is capable of very long escapes and very strong on climbs, so much so that he won the jersey of best climber in several tours of Italy and France. He was on the podium at the Tour of France for three consecutive years, second in 1990, third in 1991 and second again in 1992. He wore the yellow jersey for eight consecutive stages at the 1990 Tour, truly coming close to the final victory. In 1991, again with an attack from afar, even from Turchino, he won Milan Sanremo alone. He was also on the podium at the Tour of Italy in 1991 and 1992, taking second place in the general classification and third in 1993.
Ernesto Colnago
The best known bicycle manufacturer in the entire world. Every cyclist has always dreamed of being able to pedal with a “Colnago”. The greatest cycling champions have won with his bicycles from Fiorenzo Magni to Eddy Merckx and today Tadej Pogacar. He participated in 25 Giri d’Italia and 24 Tour de France as a mechanic at the service of the best professionals, more than 250 teams and 6,000 riders raced with his bikes for a total of over 7,000 victories, 61 world titles, 11 Olympic , 18 World Cups and 22 Grand Tours. In 1972 he built the super-light bike, weighing just 5.5 kg, which marked an era with Eddy Merckx’s hour record in Mexico City. Many technological innovations have been introduced by Ernesto Colnago, first of all carbon fiber in the world of competitions, also thanks to prestigious collaborations such as the one with Enzo Ferrari. Ernesto Colnago truly brought Made in Italy racing bikes to the world.
Beppe Conti
He is widely considered the historical expert of international cycling. Journalist and two-wheel commentator, he is the point of reference for re-proposing the exploits of champions through interviews and comments on video documents. Author of numerous books on the cycling topic, the latest of which is “The Tour Mystery”, triumphs and tragedies, historical exploits, background stories, secrets, mysteries and misdeeds of the legendary protagonists of the most important race in the world from 1903 to the present day.
Giuseppe Martinelli
Giuseppe Martinelli, “Martino” in the world of cycling, was a good cyclist, in eight years of professionalism he won stages in the Tour of Italy and the Tour of Spain. But he achieved the greatest satisfactions as sports director. In fact he is the technical director who has won the most in the history of cycling. During his career he was alongside riders such as Claudio Chiappucci, Marco Pantani, Stefano Garzelli, Gilberto Simoni, Damiano Cunego, Vincenzo Nibali and Fabio Aru. He won the Tour de France in 1998 with the unforgettable Marco Pantani and with Vincenzo Nibali in 2014. He is the only Italian sports director to have won the great French race twice. In addition to these successes he led his athletes to win the Giro d’Italia six times. An unparalleled palmares!
