Cycling, the route also changes. The Coppa Fiera di Mercatale moves forward by one day: it will be held on Easter Monday

The Coppa Fiera of Mercatale Valdarno, a hamlet of Bucine, presents an important novelty.

In this edition: the race after many years, for the first time, will be held on Holy Monday 14 April (not on Holy Tuesday as it has always been), announced the organizer Fabrizio Carnasciali, head of the organization Polisportiva Mercatale Valdarno.

This change of date will allow for a greater number of participants, as there are no amateur races on Holy Monday in Italy.

In the past, over 400 athletes, amateurs Under 23 and Elite, have participated in the Coppa Fiera. The roll of honor includes, among others, two great runners: Ivan Basso (former world champion and winner of two Giro D'Italia, known as Il Terribile), and Riccardo Riccò (nicknamed Il Cobra), who was later banned for life for doping. The route after Miravalle climbs to San Marco (Moncioni), to then 'fly' to the finish line. The route measures 137,7 km, with six laps of the Caposelvi climb circuit (over 20%), which has always made for a very tough selection in the final. The circuit (22 km) to be repeated 6 times winds through Mercatale, Montevarchi Ponte Leonardo, Levane, Caposelvi.

In the last lap the riders, having reached Madonnino, turn right for Miravalle, San Marco and head for the finish. The start is at 13:17, arrival is expected around XNUMX:XNUMX.

Giorgio Grassi