The first Giro d’Italia started from Milan in 1909. This year, for its 100th edition, and for the 76th time in its history, the Giro will conclude under the shadow of Milan’s Duomo Madonnina, with the final Individual Time Trial on 28 May. Milan is closely tied with the RCS Group, with its newspapers and its sport events.

Milan, 20 April 2017 – A marriage that has made the history of a city, the relationship between Milan and the RCS Group has developed over the years through the growth of large newspapers (such as Corriere della Sera and La Gazzetta dello Sport) and sport events, starting with the Giro d’Italia. This year’s Corsa Rosa, the 100th edition, organized by RCS Sport / La Gazzetta dello Sport, will draw to a close below Milan’s Madonnina, in Piazza Duomo, on the finish line of the last stage, a 29.3km Individual Time Trial which starts at the Monza Autodrome.

The Trofeo Senza Fine (the Never Ending Trophy) in the Milan Gallery

“The Giro d’Italia, a competition that I have always loved and followed with great interest, is back in Milan for its final stage. Being able to welcome the last stage of the Giro in our city as its Mayor, and not just as a fan, makes me really proud. Milan and the Giro have always had a special relationship and I am sure we will be able to offer the best of welcomes for the riders and spectators of this traditional festival of sport,” said the Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala.

Urbano Cairo, RCS MediaGroup CEO, said: “The link between the RCS Group and the city of Milan dates back to more than a century ago. Our Group has grown with the city and has always found enthusiastic support in Milan for all of our events – such as the most recent one, the Milan Marathon – which received a record number of entries this year, and passed under the Duomo just a few weeks ago. For the Giro 100 we could only decide to arrive in Milan, in the city that has been the race’s cradle as well as ours. It will be the 76th time the Giro ends in Milan, but the most exciting and surprising finale, the worthy conclusion to a Giro d’Italia that will enter into history.”

The Councillor for Sports of the Lombardy Region, Antonio Rossi, said: “The Giro d’Italia, when it passes through the streets of Lombardy, always receives great enthusiasm and unleashes passion among the people here. Our region is closely linked to the Corsa Rosa, which is an important promotional vehicle. With our communication initiatives we will promote our region’s tourism offering during the Giro stages. We are proud of having six of our cities host the start or finish of a Giro stage this year. As well as Milan and Monza, there’s also Bergamo, Rovetta, Bormio and Tirano, where the riders will have to give their best to overcome the Stelvio, Aprica and the Tonale Pass to write new exciting pages of the history of cycling.”

Andrea Monti, La Gazzetta dello Sport Director, spoke about the relationship between La Gazzetta dello Sport and the city of Milan: “La Gazzetta dello Sport, as a great international sport newspaper, has its roots in Milan. Also the Giro d’Italia was born in Milan and traditionally the Giro returns to Milan to draw new energy from its extraordinary history. The winner of the hundredth edition could only be crowned in the capital of Lombardy. It’s a double homage: to the traditions of Italian cycling and to a city leading a new economic and social spring.”

From left, Antonio Rossi, Giuseppe Sala, Roberta Guaineri, Urbano Cairo, Andrea Monti and Paolo Bellino

Paolo Bellino, RCS Sport Managing Director, said: “The arrival of this historic edition of the Giro d’Italia in Milan will be an unforgettable event – from both a sporting and an emotional point of view – with an entire city embracing „its“ Giro.
“The Duomo with the Madonnina, together with thousands of people, will await the final winner. The Individual Time Trial that starts from the Monza Autodrome will touch many of the landmarks of Milan and will keep the 100th Giro’s destiny open until the very last meter of the race. On the same morning, amateurs will also ride on the exact same route as the professionals with a Team Time Trial organised specially for them.
“We are confident that the 28th May will be a celebration of the city, of the country and of all the fans who will follow the Giro along its roads or through the images broadcast in 194 countries across the world’s five continents.”

PHOTO CREDIT: LaPresse
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