Giro-E Enel 2025 – Stage 2 Ginosa – Matera

The participants of the Giro-E Enel 2025 barely had a moment to catch their breath following yesterday’s gruelling affair before dealing with an even more demanding challenge – the Ginosa to Matera stage. The fact that the surroundings are straight out of a movie – both literally and figuratively – eased the cyclists’ suffering.

Director Pier Paolo Pasolini used the local landscape as the backdrop for Palestine during the filming of The Gospel According to St. Matthew back in the 1960s. Steeped in spirituality, dotted with ancient cave dwellings and offering a striking natural panorama, even in its most barren form Ginosa has long captivated filmmakers and continues to enchant every visitor. The same was the case for the cyclists participating in the Giro-E Enel, who set off from here in today’s Stage 2.

Located in the province of Taranto and situated on the southern foothills of the Murgia plateau, the town of Ginosa offers a bit of everything: coast, plains and high hills. It boasts golden beaches and a historic centre packed with monuments. Not to be missed are the Castello Normanno – built to defend against Saracen raids – the Piazza dell’Orologio, and the churches built into the rocks, such as Santa Barbara and Santa Sofia, which showcase beautiful Byzantine frescoes. There is also a 130-metre-high water tower from the Apulian aqueduct, one of the tallest buildings in the region.

Art isn’t the only treat Ginosa has to offer, so don’t miss out on local culinary pleasures such as wood-fired bread, friselle and a variety of traditional meat-based dishes with origins in the region’s pastoral culture, all best washed down with a glass of DOC Primitivo. After a good ride, naturally.

The Ginosa-Matera stage

A whopping 89.5 kilometres with 1,100 metres of elevation gain – that’s the first hilly stage of the Giro-E Enel 2025. The motors help, but they’re not enough; or rather, they’re not everything. A cyclist needs their own stamina, not only “electric stamina.” It’s a wonderful setting for cyclists, with a beautiful landscape that is relaxing to look at, if only they didn’t have to hold onto the handlebar on a route with so many curves. And what can be said about the finish line in Matera? It’s breath-taking, like in the movies. Giro-E Enel is always an opportunity for its participants to discover, or rediscover, the most beautiful parts of Italy, hidden away from mainstream international tourism and still preserving ancient traditions.

Personality of the day – Vincenzo Nibali

It’s a given. Have the Shark visit Giro-E Enel and he instantly becomes our personality of the day. Vincenzo Nibali is an icon of Italian cycling, and when the riders reached the end of the stage yesterday, he greeted his fellow athletes. Then he was at the awards area sitting next to two great champions: Claudio “El Diablo” Chiappucci and Andrea Tafi. So many victories, so many emotions in a single picture: Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, Parigi-Roubaix as well as European races and world title championships. The future (e-bikes) and history rolled into a single image. That’s the beauty of Giro-E.

Major events and youth: Ostuni ANCI Talk

The first two Giro-E ANCI Talks were held on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 May in the Green Fun Village hospitality area, immediately after the start of the Giro-E stage.

The aim of these ANCI-run Stakeholder Forums is to use sport and its values to improve the long-term impact of a major sporting event. This can be achieved by developing skills in young people and creating income and employment opportunities enabling youngsters to remain and grow in their local area.

These topics have previously been the subject of numerous ANCI activities as part of a programme of activities financed by the Fund for Youth Policies.

They were also on the agenda in Ostuni on 13 May during the first Talk, entitled “Giovani, mobilità sostenibile e percorsi di cittadinanza attiva” [youth, sustainable mobility and active citizenship programmes], which emphasised the key role young people have to play in local policy-making. The event brought together local administrators, public bodies and stakeholders to discuss sustainable mobility and local development.

Another topic debated in Ostuni was how sport and major events can become social infrastructure and tools for active citizenship, generating jobs, inclusion and new skills. Youth policies, sustainable tourism and enhancing the environmental heritage are strategic areas for investment as part of a system that includes cooperation between institutions and the local area.

This initiative, as well as the one held in Ginosa on 14 May, was carried out as part of the collaboration between the national ANCI, the Technical Scientific Committee “Pedalare per viaggiare” [Pedalling to travel] of ANCI Puglia and the municipalities of Ostuni and Ginosa.

The next event is due to take place in Camerino on Saturday 17 May at 12:45.

For more details and to sign up for the Stakeholder Forums, click here.

Stage 3 is Pompei-Naples tomorrow!

You can find the Giro-E standings here.