Giro d'Italia: here we are. Casagrande: "I expect a show. San Pellegrino in Alpe? It will be tough"

Florence, 8 May 2025 – That day, 22 May 2000, was the ninth stage of the 83rd Tour of Italy, starting from Prato and arriving at Abetone Pass, but before arriving on the Pistoia mountain there was the deadly San Pellegrino in Alpe climb, which runners will return to travel after 25 years this year on May 21st on the occasion of the Viareggio-Castelnuovo ne' Monti stage. The protagonist of that fraction of the year 2000 was the Florentine Francesco Casagrande. “It was a sunny day that day – he recalls – for me an important, decisive stage. I had seen the climb of San Pellegrino in Alpe twice and I was convinced that I had to attack. It went very well, the encouragement of many Tuscan athletes, the solitary escape and the victory at Abetone with more than a minute and a half on Garzelli and Frigo”.

 And the pink jersey won with that feat.  

“Gutierrez was wearing it that day, but thanks to the success it ended up on my shoulders, keeping it for 11 days. Too bad I lost it on the penultimate day and Garzelli wore it in the time trial stage from Briancon to Sestriere. I finished that Giro in second place”.

 This time the tough climb is 90 kilometers from the finish

“It will certainly be faced more calmly by the riders as there are still many kilometres to go to the finish line, but be careful, this is a really important challenge and can make a selection and put more than one rider in difficulty and it also comes after the time trial of almost 30 kilometres from Lucca to Pisa”.

Will you go and see it up close on May 21st?

“Maybe, but I haven’t decided yet. After 25 years, I could really go back to those dizzying hairpin bends.”

What kind of tour will the one starting tomorrow be?

“A Giro that is undoubtedly more open, the race lacks a real beacon, even if Roglic and Ayuso have something more for the classification than the others.”

Are the strongest Italians Tiberi and Ciccone?

“Without a doubt, for the rankings, the two are the most highly rated, the others will seek satisfaction in the stages, perhaps seeking success like Piganzoli, Fortunato, Zana, Vendrame, Frigo and a few others”.

And what about the only two Tuscans present, Ulissi and Magli?

“Ulissi, who has done about ten laps, can add another victory to the eight he won previously. It will be more difficult for Magli, even though he has shown himself to be good, fast, in an interesting team like VF Group Bardiani CSF Faizanè. Being at his second Giro d'Italia for Magli is already a great satisfaction”.

From a technical point of view, what is your opinion of the Giro?

“It is challenging and already from the first stages, there could be a fight from the first days and it can become really beautiful and spectacular, and I think this is the wish of all athletes and cycling enthusiasts”.

Do you still ride a bike?

"Absolutely yes, I keep myself in shape by cycling with the Iperfinish Fucecchio student team that I prepare and train together with the other former Tuscan professional Elia Favilli. We have already obtained eight victories, thanks to the boys, in addition to numerous placings, in short there has been no lack of satisfaction up to today, we hope to continue".