Giro-E Enel 2025 – Stage 9 Reggio Emilia – Viadana (Oglio-Po)

It’s the birthplace of Parmigiano Reggiano (together with the neighbouring Parma and Modena) and Italy’s tricolour flag (the future flag of the nation was shown in this city for the first time on 7 January 1797), as well as the poet Ludovico Ariosto, the artist and illustrator Walter Molino and the DJ Benny Benassi, to name just a few. So it’s fair to say that Reggio Emilia exudes history.

The city which rose along Via Emilia, the Roman road that joined Piacenza to Rimini, has been a stage finish in seven different Giro d’Italias (between 1927 and 2022) as well as one for the Giro d’Italia Women, with Elisa Balsamo triumphing in a sprint finish in 2022. Now it can add the honour of a stage start, today’s Giro-E Enel Stage 9, which ends in Viadana after a little under 60 km.

There is plenty to see and do in Reggio Emilia. Not least the three eye-catching bridges made of white painted steel with their light, serpentine lines, designed by Santiago Calatrava, which welcome visitors to 21^st century Reggio Emilia as they come off the motorway. The Mediopadana high-speed train station was added in 2013: with its characteristic wave-like silhouette and play of light, the white steel and glass structure has become one of the world’s most admired works of contemporary architecture – as well as one of the most beautiful stations. Elsewhere in this city of art, the Mannerist and Baroque domes offer traces of its medieval and Renaissance past. Among the gems not to be missed are the Cathedral, the Basilica of San Prospero, the Cloisters of Saint Peter, and the Town Hall overlooking Piazza Prampolini, the city’s cultural centre. But remember: if you’re toasting to anything, only Lambrusco Reggiano is allowed here!

The Reggio Emilia-Viadana (Oglio-Po) stage

There’s not a lot of cycling to speak of today. 57.9 km with 200 metres of elevation gain is a breeze – and the bikes’ motors can sleep through most of it. The beauty of today’s stage lies in the location. While the Giro starts from Modena, the Giro-E sets off from Reggio Emilia and joins the route of the Pink Race after 18 km. This stage is a homage to Giovannino Guareschi’s The Little World of Don Camillo and that beautiful yet poor and foggy Italy of the post-war years, the films starring Fernandel and Gino Cervi with Brescello as Caput Mundi and the creator of the wonderful character that is Don Camillo the priest. It also features the ‘Great Mother Po’, as the river was dubbed by legendary sports journalist Gianni Brera, another giant from this part of the world (Pavia, just a bit further north from Viadana). The finish line along the riverbank means the Giro-E riders can savour the Po’s unmistakeable fragrance while waiting for the professionals to come in.

Personality of the day – Luigi Macchia

Luigi Macchia, the Brigadier General of the Guardia di Finanza, is no stranger to the Giro-E Enel.

“I took part last year when we entered a team for several stages, though not all of them, to mark the 250^th anniversary of the Guardia di Finanza. This year, since I pride myself on being a cycling enthusiast even though I don’t ride that much, I wanted to take part again. Thanks to Amedeo Tabini and the Team Fly Cycling Citroen, I’ve returned to the Giro-E.”

He commented on his ride through Abruzzo. “It’s a beautiful region that’s not very well known but it’s rich in history and unspoilt nature. The most surprising thing about the Giro-E is being able to ride the same route as in the Giro d’Italia, to cross the Giro finish line, and for those of us who aren’t professionals to have a crowd cheering you on, encouraging you to keep going. It’s a huge thrill. What I love about cycling is the feeling of freedom, the sense of being at peace with nature around me and with myself. It’s a moment of complete escape, where I don’t think about anything and feel a deep connection with my inner self and nature. It feels like a rebirth every time.”

ANCI Stakeholder Forums continue with in-depth features on the Giro d’Italia website

The ANCI Stakeholder Forum events at the Giro-E continue to receive excellent feedback, with Thursday’s fourth stage in Reggio Emilia organised by the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI) in collaboration with the National Centre for Sustainable Mobility (MOST).

All the case studies and experiences shared during the stakeholder meetings relate to the overarching theme of local development strategies, enhancing resources, and major sporting events as opportunities for youth engagement and territorial growth.

These are key topics in the work that ANCI has carried out at both the Giro d’Italia and the Giro-E, as part of a broader support programme for Italian municipalities, funded by the National Fund for Youth Policies.

The aim of the ANCI Talks at the Giro-E is to strengthen youth involvement in major sporting events and promote Italy’s cultural, natural and food-and-wine heritage.

In-depth coverage of each ANCI event at the Giro-E is shared through the ANCI communication channels and also on the official Giro d’Italia website, on a dedicated landing page for ANCI activities.

Click here for information and to register for the Stakeholder Forums.

Click here to see the Giro-E rankings.