The Granfondo del Po is back. Cycling between sport and tourism

An Estense city, the capital of 'two wheels'. The 'Gran Fondo del Po' is underway with over a thousand participants. The cycling event is scheduled for Sunday, starting at 9 am from the Estense Castle, now in its eleventh edition, organized by the Po River asd association, with the patronage of the Municipality of Ferrara and the Emilia-Romagna Region. Ferrara, therefore, a week after the historic cycling race La Furiosa, is preparing to host the Granfondo del Po and then to close again in March with the announced 'Coppi Bartali'. The details and the program were illustrated yesterday morning in the town hall. The meeting was attended by the sports councilor of the Municipality of Ferrara Francesco Carità, the tourism councilor of the Municipality of Ferrara Matteo Fornasini and the president of Po River asd Simone Zannini. "This type of event - underlined the councilor Francesco Carità - is of great value. The month of March is characterized by important cycling events, first with the Furiosa and now with the Granfondo del Po. Among the registered there are also foreigners, proving that tourism and sport go well together and are a winning combination". The race, which will start in the shadow of the Estense Castle, will develop along two characteristic routes that run along the river. The long one will be 139 km, the short one 77 km. Guided tours are also planned for companions from 10 am starting from the Castle along the streets of the historic center, arriving at the Certosa. "The Granfondo del Po - pointed out the councilor Matteo Fornasini - is a fundamental event in the rich program of our territory, because it combines the sporting aspect with the touristic one and has now become an asset for the city and for tourism". Already over a thousand athletes have registered, with more than half of the participants coming from outside the region and with cyclists also from Germany. "An event that, year after year, confirms itself as an important event - said Marcella Zappaterra, regional councilor Pd - in the sports and tourism panorama of Ferrara. The Region has always been committed to supporting events that combine sports, tourism and enhancement of the territory". The home of the Granfondo will be, as per tradition, the Palapalestre. On Saturday it will be possible to register from 10 to 18 and instead on Sunday it will only be possible to collect the technical envelope and race pack from 6.30 to 8. Upon arrival, awards for the absolute and collection of the prizes for the first three classified in the category.

Mario Tosatti