For the Freccia dei Vini, the project is to become a race for professionals

The councilor for sport of Stradella Andrea Frustagli explains the strategy “Fundamental is the role of Lele Bombini for the connection with the sponsors”

the case

The Freccia dei vini could become a classic of cycling, like the Milan-Sanremo. A few hours after the conclusion of the 50th edition (won on Sunday by Walter Calzoni from Brescia), the organizing committee is evaluating the possibility of transforming the appointment reserved for semi-professionals into an event for professionals, for the best runners in the world. The theater will always be the “wine ring”, promoted with full marks after hosting the final part of the 18th stage of the Giro d’Italia in 2021, the Rovereto-Stradella. “The idea came from a few months ago – explains the Councilor for Sport of the Municipality of Stradella, Andrea Frustagli – we have already moved, although obviously the resources to transform it into a classic are different compared to a semi-professional event like that of Sunday. The project, however, is already to make it become in 2023, with RCS Sport, a fixed appointment on the calendar of the “profs”. In short, the idea is to make racing make the leap in quality ».

the role of bombini

The former professional Emanuele Bombini will have a fundamental role: “Lele and I are working – continues Frustagli – then we will have to sit around a table to ensure that all institutions, all entities, the entourage that can make a contribution , can participate. In this case we would make our project concrete, giving great prominence to the Freccia dei vini ».

The territory plays an important role: «We must not think only of our Stradella – he adds – and I think that cycling is a sport that has this function. With semi-professionals there is no television, there is no filming, but if it becomes a classic then there would be filming, live on television. This would obviously benefit the whole area, because it would give a lot of visibility. It is an ambitious project, certainly, which I believe can be easily achieved if everyone wants to be a team, as cycling itself teaches us. Nor should it be excluded that it may become a closed circuit, repeating the “wine ring” several times, crossing 7 different municipalities: in order of route, Zenevredo, Montù Beccaria, Montescano, Castana, Cigognola, Broni, Canneto Pavese. Attention must not remain a dream in the drawer, but we want to make it come true, as happened for the Giro and the Mille Miglia ». The Freccia, created in 1972, was part of the Uci Europe Tour in 2005, in category 1.2, before re-entering the Italian semi-professional national calendar the following year.

sports evenings

But in 2023 it could become a classic for already established champions: that would be good news. Sport also at the social theater of Stradella: «We are already working on the October sport theater event – confirms Frustagli – we already have some names that we cannot reveal because we will have the official status only in September. There will be 4 or 5 evenings, there will certainly be an Olympian. We have already brought Patrizio Oliva, Dino Meneghin, Giacomo Agostini, giving further prestige to our city and the territory. We have definitely raised the bar and we don’t want to stop at the most beautiful ». –

FRANCO SCABROSETTI