Giro-E Enel 2024 – Stage 5

Lucca, 8 May 2024 – Massa kicks off a jewel stage of the Giro-E today. It intercepts the Giro route in the last segment of the professional stage (178 kilometres), departing from Genoa. No sea, you pass through Pietrasanta, city of art and artists (Botero, Mitoraj, Joan Mirò, Pietro Cascella, Arnaldo and Giò Pomodoro chose to live and work there), then Camaiore, where you can admire the Lombard Badia di San Pietro and the thirteenth-century Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta, then head inland, where there is the small climb up Montemagno and finally the finish line in the enchanting city of Lucca, where the Giro d’Italia returns after 39 years. The last time was in 1985 with the 48 kilometre Lido di Camaiore-Lucca individual time trial (won by Francesco Moser), the final stage of that edition, which ended with the success of Tasso, or Bernard Hinault.

In terms of splendour, Massa is no less impressive, with Carrara, the city of marble, which is extracted from the Apuan Alps, in the background. Given the route, electric cyclists will not have the chance to see Piazza Bad Kissingen, in Marina di Massa, with its monument – 14 blocks of marble arranged vertically, like a sail – by Pino Castagna, a tribute to the place’s vocation as well as to the efforts and risks linked to the quarrying and processing of the stone. An impressive 350 tonnes, but only one of the many things to see in Massa.

The Massa-Lucca stage

Beautiful and easy. A long ride of about fifty kilometres (49.5 to be precise), with a paltry altitude range of 350 metres. Only one tough part in the day, if we can call it that: Montemagno, four and a half kilometres with an average gradient of three percent. The protagonists of the Giro-E didn’t get bored, however: splendid views, lots of nature, and various tests: timed, compact and regular, to aspire to one of the jerseys up for grabs.

Cyclist of the day – Justine Mattera

And happy birthday also to the very nice Justine Mattera, who is so fond of the Giro-E that she joined the merry troop the day after celebrating her (?) birthday.

“A nice quiet family dinner, with my husband and my children, in Milan, and then I left to come to the Giro-E to cycle. I really like e-bikes, because they take you where your legs alone perhaps couldn’t with such happiness (wonderful slip of the tongue by Justine, who unconsciously identifies ease of pedalling with happiness, -Ed.) and allow you to enjoy panoramic views and beautiful climbs. Not every day is made to suffer and train… the pedal-assisted bike is perfect for those who are not that trained or are no longer beginners… and you struggle anyway, but it’s up to you to choose how much, and that’s the beauty of it. If you want, you can also challenge the bike: it’s heavy; you can do as much effort as you please… The e-bike is truly a great invention.”

It’s not the first time you’ve come to the Giro-E. What do you like about this event?“It is a lot of fun, a formidable opportunity to discover the pedal-assisted bike and live a champion’s experience, the roads of the Giro d’Italia, our beautiful Italy, those same roads where, a few hours later, Pogacar will pass… I find it magical.”

How much do you like cycling?”A lot. I started because my husband was a good amateur, then my children started competing in youth teams, my daughter is the reigning Lombardy regional champion on the road. I live cycling every day, between my daughter’s training sessions and mine, because I also compete in races. I like the idea of cycling as a team sport, but in the end it’s your legs that count.”

City of Sport and Health, an opportunity for young people: the second stage of the ANCI workshops at the Giro d’Italia in Valdengo.

The objective of the workshops is to improve the level of engagement of the young population in the valorisation of cultural, naturalistic, food and wine resources and excellences of the area as drivers of sustainable local development, through the common thread of sport and its values.

Thursday 9 May at 12.50 pm, at the La Lizza Gardens in Siena, in the hospitality area of the Green Fun Village, a moment of discussion is scheduled on the opportunities for engagement and growth for young people linked to local development strategies, valorisation of cultural resources, sports and major events.

The speakers will bring local cases and experiences to the participants. From cultural valorisation as a driving force for economic and social growth for young people and the area, with the cooperative of the Teatro Povero of Monticchiello to the street art project of the high schools of Siena, to the valorisation of food and wine excellence, with the Bettino Ricasoli educational institute. There will also be space for sport as a social infrastructure for combating bullying and cyberbullying, with Cus Rugby, and for inclusion with Costone Baskin, as well as discussing the social and economic impact of major sporting events.

These appointments take place as part of the broader support and financing program for Italian municipalities under the National Youth Policy Fund, created through agreements with the Italian Department for youth policies and universal civil service of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

From Siena to Rapolano Terme, the ANCI team, led by skier Giorgio Rocca and made up, like every day, of local administrators and ambassadors of the area, will also be cycling.

For info and registration click here: link