A fitting finale. Rome hosted the Grand Arrival of the Giro d’Italia – and also the Giro-E Enel – for the eighth time, the fourth in a row. It was a parade through The Great Beauty, amongst monuments, ruins and landmarks, from the banks of the Tiber to the Imperial Fora, from the Colosseum to the Baths of Caracalla, from the Mouth of Truth to Via del Circo Massimo; a single, sweeping view of a location unrivalled in its contrasts and contradictions.
It was a day of great celebration, and not just because of the Giro-E. From the Green Fun Village to GiroLand, from the arrival of the Giro d’Italia Caravan to the Family Ride, the bike ride dedicated to the city of Rome, open to 4,500 participants of all ages on bikes of every kind. For the participants, a stunning route through a stunning city, crowned by the finish line in Via del Circo Massimo passing under the Corsa Rosa arch, the podium where the six complete winning teams took to the stage. As at every stage, there was then the anticipation of the Giro champions’ arrival at the Giro-E Enel hospitality area which, with its now iconic Airstream, is the most beautiful and sought-after of them all.
A record-breaking, but above all marvellous, edition has come to an end. Over a thousand kilometres of cycling through climbs, descents, flat terrain, undulating hills, seaside, towns and high mountains. Over 20,000 metres of elevation gain, 18 stages, 29 teams – including Official Teams that started every stage and many Daily Teams – a journey through Italy, from the sea to the Alps, from Calabria to Friuli Venezia Giulia, which has kept us on the edge of our seats from 9 May until today.
There are so many people to thank, from the fantastic organising team led by Giro-E director Roberto Salvador, with the collaboration of Michael Giannelli, to all the team captains, the sponsors and the public, who are now eagerly awaiting the participants, not forgetting the Green Fun Village by Continental, which brightened every start town each day and celebrated all the participants as champions on stage. Thanks to our very own Luca Della Porta, Simone Carpanini and Alice Morelli. A special thank you also goes to our photographer Alessandro Garofalo of LaPresse, for the photos with which we have kept you updated daily on this electric Grand Tour.
And as always at this point, best wishes and happy cycling to everyone.
