the preview of the symbolic places lit up in pink – Corriere.it

It watched the passage of 261 years of history, hosted the toss of zillions of coins of every mint and served as the backdrop for the legendary cinematic kiss between Marcello Mastroianni and Anita Ekberg. He thought he’d seen them all, the Trevi Fountainin an existence as a monument-icon, but she had never dressed in such a pink and dazzling light.

happened on Thursday, one hundred days after the start of Giro d’Italia number 106, when the 21 stage host cities of the 2023 edition have illuminated their most characteristic places to show the way to the stars of the cast of protagonists expected to start next 6 May on the Trabocchi cycle pathlaid out on the old disused Adriatic railway, Abruzzo’s contribution (returning to it for the second time since 2001) to sustainability: the Belgian champion Remco Evenepoelreigning world champion at 22, the king of the 2018 Tour de France Geraint Thomasso far very unlucky in the Giro, Primoz Roglic third on the podium in 2019, the year of Carapaz ahead of Nibali, the Australian Jay Hindley winner of the last edition e Philip Gannathe jet man who holds the hour record, from Vignone (Verbania) with fury.

From the typical overflows of the Abruzzo coast, which will form the backdrop for the opening individual time trial, to Piazza del Plebiscito in Naples (the 6th stage that would like to repeat last year’s resounding success, when the whole city pours onto the waterfront), from Cascade delle Marmore (Terni-Fossombrone, 8) at the Tre Cime di Lavaredo lit up by the light-symbol of the Giro, yesterday at dusk pink was the dominant color of an Italy that awaits the moveable cycling festival as a hymn to life. since distant 1909, with the exception of the pause for the two world wars, which the pink race has been sewing together enthusiasts — this year from South to North, with an encroachment abroad (13th stage) that embraces the Cima Coppi, the 2,469 meters of the Gran San Bernardo, in Switzerland — with a long bit of asphalt 3,488.6 km, for a total of 51,300 meters in altitude. The terminus Romeas in 2018, but without the perfidious cobblestones: final parade on 28 May at the Fori Imperiali, with the general classification of the Giro decided by the time trial of the day before (20th stage) from Tarvisio to Monte Lussari.

But between Ortona (departure) and the capital (arrival), which are not so far away as the crow flies, in the meantime, everything will have happened: 8 stages for sprinters, three time trials (70.6 km in total), 4 rough stages and 7 mountain stages with an uphill finish line. It’s called Giro d’Italia 2023 and was born to carve out a page of its own in the book of romance novels par excellence.

One hundred days to go, today, might seem like an eternity. For the organizers of Rcs Sport, however, a blink of an eye. The routes have to be made safe, permits asked for, stage venues set up, while Rai is once again this year undertaking to broadcast every meter of the race. After Hungary’s huge crowds in 2022, talks will return to abroad next year due to the principle of alternation (the arrival will remain in Rome, which has signed a multi-year agreement with the Giro), the usual caravan of faces and legs (almost) ready to cross Italy offering anyone a story, an emotion, a drop of sweat in which to reflect and recognize themselves. That the Giro is the story of our country, history says so. Her color is pink, which goes with a little bit of everything.