The Coppa d’Oro is now an event capable of projecting our territory on a national level. And this year it was certainly no exception, dyeing itself yellow in anticipation of the upcoming stage of the Tour de France, scheduled for next Monday, July 1st. And in fact this year’s guests were cycling legends, athletes who raced the Tour and journalists who reported on it. Everyone agreed: “Piacenza is about to experience a unique event that it will never forget”. Among those awarded also the great champion Vincenzo Nibali.
First of all, what does receiving this award represent?
“Definitely a nice thing because then, less than a week after the start of the Tour de France, receiving this award in a city where the tour will start is truly very nice. As I said during the awards ceremony, it is easy to receive some prize when you are active for what you have done, but receiving it once the activity is over has a different flavor”.
Last Italian to win the Tour de France, what are the sensations that remain ten years later?
This year marks ten years and the emotions are certainly beautiful, they are stronger and after ten years a start of the Tour means a lot to me because this also helps us understand what the Tour de France is also for what it has left to me as I remember: it is overwhelming, therefore an event that will certainly remain in the annals as a historical thing. It’s the first time this has happened and the Tour will certainly try to pay a great tribute with this great departure from Florence.”
From your point of view, how long will we see an Italian win the Tour de France again?
“It’s difficult, but there are certainly young people who are growing up with great interest, but we shouldn’t rush. In the meantime, we expect perhaps something in the next few years.”
THE GOLDEN CUP
Among those awarded also the champion Gianni Bugno: “It is certainly a very important event that will give prestige to the city of Piacenza, it is a showcase on the world, so the Tour with all the televisions will take the image of Piacenza around the world, a great benefit for the city. I remember it as a great race, beautiful to participate in, important, which gives a lot of visibility”.
Another great champion also agrees, Claudio Chiappucci: “The public will experience an occasion unlike any other every day. This is history, an event that will become part of history. The tour allows you to discover something more, from the context of the caravan to everything that surrounds it. Then seen from inside the audience it’s another story, it’s pure motivation”.
The cyclist from Piacenza Giancarlo Perini he talks about his emotions a few days before the Piacenza stage of the Tour de France, a competition in which he has participated ten times: “First of all, when I learned that the Tour was taking place in Piacenza, I got goosebumps, after the 10 tours played, in short, it’s no small feat. I think it is an event that we will see again in 100 years, because perhaps in Italy we will see it again, but I find it difficult for it to start again from Piacenza. A great event, you have to be good at knowing how to exploit this opportunity“.
Not just cyclists, the Coppa d’Oro also saw guests Ernesto Colnagofounder of the legendary bicycle manufacturing company: “We must take our hats off to all the authorities who obtained permission to make the tour stop, because the tour is a unique thing. I congratulate all the managers, all the personalities who achieved this event, which will exist in time and history, because it magnifies Italy and Piacenza is part of Italy”.
It will also be a unique event according to the journalist Beppe Conti: “It’s an event that the people of Piacenza will experience with great emotion and I always say when it’s all over they will ask themselves, how long will it last? Because it is truly something magical, extraordinary that is worth experiencing. I am happy, I am half Emilian, from the hills between Parma and Piacenza, so I am happy that this city has the opportunity to experience this great moment”.
Satisfied Roberto Bellidirector of the Piacenza Typical Salumi Consortium: “We thought we would capture a very important event for the city of Piacenza, such as the start of the third stage of the Tour de France and connect the Coppa d’Oro. Coppa d’Oro which was born from an idea of the Chamber of Commerce to enhance both the products and the Piacenza area through cured meats. Cured meats have become somewhat of the agri-food flag of our territory and precisely having a Gold Cup with very important figures from the world of cycling who have made cycling, Italian entrepreneurship and Italian journalism a story that goes beyond our borders , is certainly an important goal for Coppa d’Oro and for the city of Piacenza”.
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