Giro-E Enel 2025 – Stage 4 Celano – Tagliacozzo

Stage 4 of Giro-E Enel 2025 takes place entirely within Abruzzo and is the first this year to finish with a climb. It starts in Celano, in the province of L’Aquila.

A visit to Celano, which was only granted the status of a town in 1998, is like diving into a sea of nature and worship. Located in the Sirente-Velino Regional Park at an altitude of 800m, it was once known as Caput Marsorum and was the homeland of Franciscan friar Thomas of Celano, the first hagiographer of Saint Francis of Assisi.

From its unique vantage point, Celano looks out over the Fucino Plain – dubbed ‘the Garden of Italy’ – and lends its name to the nearby Gole di Celano, one of the country’s most spectacular canyons. It is the perfect place for hiking and other outdoor activities, with an altitude ranging from 1,330 to 500 metres.

A sight not to be missed is Piccolomini Castle, the symbol of the city it towers over. The castle is a remnant of medieval Celano, as are the dozens of churches – San Giovanni, Madonna delle Grazie, with its Portale delle Donne (women’s gateway), San Francesco and Santa Maria Valleverde, to name but a few – which serve as a constant reminder of the religious tradition of the Celanese.

After engaging in sport or prayer, there is a wide selection of local liqueurs you can try, such as gentian, walnut or sour cherries.

Since 2019, the city has had two charging stations, strategically located in Piazza Aia and Via della Torre. The best months to visit Celano are July and August, when the town celebrates its protectors, the Santi Martiri, and hosts numerous other events such as Festival Jacovella, Festival AdArte and Anno Federiciano.

Joining the intrepid electric bikers today was the president of the Abruzzo Region Marco Marsilio, who never misses the opportunity to jump on his bike whenever the Giro-E passes through his region. Abruzzo is much loved by cyclists, both for bike tourism and racing, and has hosted stage finishes in 98 of the 108 Giro d’Italias to date. Perhaps a record? Since 2016, Abruzzo has hosted at least one stage finish every year.

La tappa Celano-Tagliacozzo

This Giro-E stage shares the same final section as the Giro’s long Apennine stage, which alternates ups and downs of varying lengths. The Giro-E goes off route for four kilometres before joining the same course as the Giro, for a total of 49.2 km and 1,200 metres of ascent. There’s plenty of pedalling to do – and use of the motors too! The final climb lasts 11.9 km, with the last two and a half at an average 10% gradient, reaching 13% in parts, and finishes in Tagliacozzo at an altitude of 1,425. The Giro-E is starting to get serious!

Personality of the day – Marco Melandri

The Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Daily Team had a special captain: Marco Melandri. The 2002 250cc motorcycle racing world champion has spent his life in the saddle of a motorbike but is also a fan of bicycles. The Pompeii-Naples stage was his first time taking part in Giro-E Enel.

“Giro-E is fantastic. You feel like a real cyclist, experience new things, take part in the circus and get to know new people and place,” Marco explained. “After my motorbike career, I took to enduro racing on electric mountain bikes and rediscovered some of the adrenaline MotoGP gave me. The great thing about bikes is they’ve enabled me to discover some incredible places in the middle of nowhere. Descents always give you an adrenaline rush and you have to keep improving your technique. Going downhill takes you to the edge of fear with all the rocks, roots and trees. But every race is like a mini-holiday for me because I go with friends in a camper van and we visit new places. With an e-bike you can take on ascents through the woods that you couldn’t with a traditional bike, while on the road you can hit speeds that your legs alone couldn’t handle. I love it!”

Third Giro-E ANCI Talk in Camerino: Saturday 17 May at 12:45

Alongside the 2025 Giro-E, a series of talks are being held by ANCI (National Association of Italian Municipalities) as part of the programme of activities financed by the National Fund for Youth Policies to foster youth participation and sustainable local development, including through major sporting events.

The idea behind these ANCI Stakeholder Forums is to enhance the long-term impact of a big event by harnessing the values of sport and the distinctive features of the local area.

The title of the ANCI Talk to be held on Saturday 17 May in Camerino, from 12:45 in the Green Fun Village hospitality area, is “Il turismo lento nella strategia di rilancio dell’Appennino centrale” (Slow tourism in the revitalisation strategy of the Central Apennines). There will be a special focus on how to create a place for young people from the area and university students to meet by offering free sports and non-sports activities, including for those with disabilities. The final speaker will be Guido Castelli, the commissioner for reconstruction after the 2016 earthquake.

The third Giro-E ANCI Talk has been organised by ANCI Marche and the special commissioner for reconstruction after the 2016 earthquake, as part of the programme supported by the National Fund for Youth Policies.

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

Stage 5 will be Camerino-Castelraimondo on Saturday!

You can find the Giro-E standings here.