Giro dell’Appennino, the 85th edition on 14 July. And for 2025 it will double: “We are working to organize the women’s race too”

Genoa – Il Tour of the Apennines continues. And he’s already thinking about doubling it. The 85th edition of the Ligurian classic was presented in the Blue Hall of the Genoa Aquarium, which however is 90 years old: the first time, in fact, was in 1934, victory for Augusto Como, but the race was not held from 1940 to 1945 due to the Second World War. This year the appointment is for Sunday 14 July, the Apennines are part of the events of Genoa European Capital of Sport 2024, but the organizers of the Pontedecimo Sports Union are already working for 2025 too, with a big surprise in store: “We want to double and also organize the Apennines in a female version – announces President Enrico Costa – we plan to have it on the same day, the date we asked for is June 24th, a holiday for Genoa and some other municipalities, a weekday for the others, a date that could be suitable in the calendar because there would be no concomitance with other dates. The race only lasts 6 hours, but we work on it all year round with the help of our key volunteers.”

But now we are thinking first of all about next July 14th, about the 2024 edition route is that of recent years, almost 200 kilometers, 2,800 meters of altitude difference, with the eleventh arrival in via XX Settembre 25 years after the first which concluded the race in 1999. Reconfirmation for the passage to the Guardia for the fourth consecutive year after the crowd success of the previous editions: after the first part of the Bocchetta in Pietralvezzare he will turn left. And there will be a repeat for the start from Arquata Scrivia which last year “adopted” the US Pontedecimo Ciclismo race with great enthusiasm for the first time. 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 UAE Team Emirates’ participation among the UCI Worldteams is certain (which will have number 1, having won in 2023 with the Swiss Hirschi), of the Astana Qazaqstan Team, of the Arkea-B&B Hotels and among the UCI Proteams the Italian professionals Polti Kometa, VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè and Corratec- Fanini wines.

“The first race in 1934 was a tough one and the one on 14 July will be tough too – he comments Enrico Costa, president of US Pontedecimo Ciclismo -. But this year too, in addition to the organization of this great sporting event, we have further committed ourselves to safety for cyclists: the inauguration of the cycle path in Corso Italia in Genoa named after Michele Scarponi and Rocco Rinaldi and the request of the US Pontedecimo Ciclismo to name the Val Polcevera cycle path after Davide Rebellin and his partner Valerio Parodi are a warning that such tragedies direct the institutions to take measures that curb the massacre of cyclists, athletes or boaters on Italian roads. A massacre that finds no excuse. We must guarantee amateurs and children the possibility of moving and training safely.”

It is no coincidence that two collateral events will be dedicated to these categories. The amateur race will take place on Saturday 6 July Pontedecimo-Bocchetta/GP Municipality of Campomorone, re-enactment of the Pontedecimo-Bocchetta organized by Luigi Ghiglione in the 1930s: the 1933 edition was the dress rehearsal for organizing the first edition of the Tour of the Apennines in 1934, then called “Circuit of the Apennines”. Exactly three months after the inauguration of via Luigi Ghiglione in Pontedecimo, the route will link this new street dedicated to the historic patron, with the Cippo di Ghiglione on the Bocchetta, erected next to Coppi’s. Meeting at 2pm at the L’Aquilone Shopping Center, official departure in Campomorone. On the day of the race, “The kilometer of the Apennines-Memorial Giulio Enante” will take place, with children and teenagers pedaling from the last kilometer to the finish line in via XX Settembre, with any type of bicycle, just before the arrival of the professionals , in memory of Giulio Enante, former Senior Commissioner of the Municipal Police of Genoa and board of directors of US Pontedecimo Ciclismo.

The celebration of the Tour of the Apennines will begin on the eve of Saturday 13 July at the Cabannun in Campomorone, when Domenico Pozzovivo will be awarded the Appennino d’Oro. By participating in the last Giro d’Italia (which ended in twentieth place), the Lucanian climber reached the historic record of participations, 18, as many as those of Vladimiro Panizza. Twice first on the Bocchetta, in 2010 and 2012, professional since 2005, a season in which his best result was fifth place in the Giro dell’Appennino, Pozzovivo then climbed onto the podium in 2010, second behind Robert Kiserlovski.

“On a personal level, I am particularly attached to the Tour of the Apennines because this event has accompanied me since the beginning of my department: I remember that we presented the 2021 edition as that of the hoped-for post-covid restart, albeit with still numerous uncertainties related to the pandemic – remember Simona Ferro, Councilor for Sport of the Liguria Region -. This two-year period is particularly significant for the sporting world of Genoa and Liguria. Obtaining prestigious awards such as “Genoa European capital of sport 2024” and “Liguria European region of sport 2025″ demonstrate how the world of cycling was also fundamental in obtaining these two important results”.

“Eighty-five editions for the Giro dell’Appennino, twenty-five of which concluded in via XX Settembre with an iconic final sprint. Two special anniversaries for a race that has firmly entered the hearts of the Genoese and is awaited every year with great trepidation, even more so in 2024 in which Genoa is the European Capital of Sport – states the Councilor for Sport of the Municipality of Genoa, Alessandra Bianchi – Quest The event, of international caliber, combines the competitive aspect with the valorisation of our territory, offering a unique showcase to the beauty and excellence of our city. I congratulate US Pontedecimo, led by president Enrico Costa, for the great passion, dedication and commitment that, year after year, it puts on the track to give all fans and others an increasingly spectacular event. The cycling tradition in Genoa has deep roots, both in the competitive and amateur fields and, as an Administration, we want to continue to promote it together with the issue of safety”.

“The Genoa Aquarium could not be missing alongside the Giro of the Apennines on this important anniversary – concludes Beppe Costa, President and CEO of Costa Edutainment -. We are happy to offer hospitality to the presentation of this race which for 90 years has contributed to making our beautiful territory known to the world. An event which, in the broader context of Genoa as the European Capital of Sport, becomes even more of a sporting and tourist driving force for our region and, with great attention, further strengthens the information and awareness-raising action on the topic of road safety”.