'Coppi and Bartali' Week. The Ferrara-Bondeno stage

It is from Ferrara that the 'Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali' is preparing to experience its 25th edition, bringing the emotions of the great race back to the city that saw it born a quarter of a century ago, thanks to the tireless work of Adriano Amici's GS Emilia. Yesterday in Sala Estense it revealed its secrets and the stages that will take cyclists from Ferrara to Forlì from 25 to 29 March. An edition that promises to be a spectacle, with athletes from all continents ready to challenge each other along routes that are steeped in history and future. "We are pleased to host the start of this prestigious race - opened the sports councilor Francesco Carità - when Adriano Amici proposed this challenge to us, we accepted it with determination. It was a long and demanding job, but today we are here, thanks also to the collaboration of the Municipality of Bondeno, where the stage will end, and of all those who made this event possible. Our commitment will not end here". Prefect Massimo Marchesiello then underlined the cultural value of the event, recalling that "cycling is a powerful showcase, capable of making our places and monuments better known, with a highly impactful tourist attraction".

The start will be at 11.50 from Piazza Castello as in 2001 and the finish is in Bondeno, in a water bottle exchange between the two cities. "Bondeno has a long history of cycling - added Mayor Simone Saletti - now we have the honor of hosting this finish in the beautiful twinning with Ferrara creating a partnership between a large city and a small territory. For us too it is a great showcase and already on Saturday morning some associations with schools will retrace the lives of Coppi and Bartali". From Ferrara to Bondeno, on March 25, the event will open and will be a 174.5 km gallop with a double initial circuit with Villanova, Viconovo, Fossalta, Baura, the Gpm on the Po di Volano bridge, then off towards Bondeno where with a double circuit the finish line will be reached. There the 'Ferrara-Bondeno' jersey will also be awarded to the best young rider of the continental teams. Then off towards the Riccione-Sogliano, Riccione-Cesena, Brisighella and Brisighella-Forlì stages, where the overall winner and the leaders of the various classifications will be crowned.

Laura War