CASTELFRANCO
Since when did Castelfranco not enjoy top-level cycling? A long, long time.
Someone, among the many fans who flocked to Piazza Giorgione yesterday afternoon, remembered the post-Giro circuit of 2008. Someone instead brought up the epilogue of the Giro dei grandi 1999 with a jab from Mario Cipollini. The grand finale of the Giro Under 23 in Castelfranco was a tribute to Zalf’s 40 years, but also a sign of restart after the pandemic tunnel and a first brick for something more important.
«Bring the Giro dei grandi back to Castelfranco? Yes, you can work on it “, confides Egidio Fior, soul of Zalf and” father “of the final act of the Giro baby,” But a regular appointment in the amateur race would not be bad either “. The final circuit, designed between Salvarosa and the drawing room of Castelfranco, was made on purpose to celebrate the history of one of the most prestigious and prolific nurseries in Italy. At the court of Fior and the Lucchetta brothers, Maurizio Fondriest, Ivan Basso, Damiano Cunego, Gianni Moscon grew up. «Seeing the curtain of the Giro Under 23 here is a satisfaction for everyone, the last stage is the most important», Fior underlines, «But this is also a sign of a restart for the city after the very hard moments of the pandemic». And our thoughts turn to the thousand fans who are waiting to celebrate Ayuso behind the barriers, to the fans who immortalize the podium and the delivery of the jerseys with their smartphone. All of this amidst the Spanish flags and the sympathy of the Fans Club (from Bergamo, like the team in the pink jersey, Colpack Ballan) “I’m fused by Ayuso”. «The history of Zalf is back to life and honored. An exciting day », remarked Giancarlo Lucchetta. Zalf closes in second place in the team standings, but the stage victory was missing: good indications from Edoardo Zambanini, top ten on Friday on Nevegal and yesterday in the home leg. Trevigiani, for its part, archives the 44th edition with the second place of Luca Colnaghi in the arrival of Cesenatico: it is a pity that the promising Lecco, jersey of the points classification and two stages won at the Giro baby 2020, had to retire on Friday for stomach problems. In Castelfranco he would have been among the favorites. –
M.T.