On the Alpe di Mera pre-Covid scenario: bikes, writings, barbecues, encouragement and … masks
ALPE DI MERA. Lake Orta, Lake Maggiore and we would like to say more of those breathtaking landscapes seen on Friday thanks to the Giro d’Italia if we were not obviously held back by what happened on Sunday on Mottarone with those 14 victims who ended up in the Russian roulette of human stupidity in spite of themselves. .
Then the Valsusa and the ascent of Alpe di Mera, from Scopello 9.7 km for 872 meters of altitude difference at 9% average gradient in 27 hairpin bends. A beautiful, unprecedented for the Giro and tough ascent. At high altitude a breathtaking landscape with a real view to the north of Monte Rosa. That was worth the ticket price.
The beauty of cycling, of cycling fans, however, is that there is no ticket. We got on the chairlift yesterday before the highlight of the race, almost thirty minutes of ascent lulled by the tranquility of the forest, then 10 km on foot downhill to go and tell you about the stage.
Well, those kilometers between fans who arrived at high altitude and hundreds of spectators who thronged, at a distance, but happy on the roadside or on the hairpin bends, certified a wonderful thing: the people of cycling, a large part of the beauty of the Giro d ‘Italy, after more than a year of masks (which are still there, mind you), lockdown, Italy colored in zones, has regained possession of the itinerant cycling stadium. Signs, written on the asphalt, many for Bernal, who is at home in these parts, banners, barbecues, drinks, encouragement, yes also many bizarre electric bikes of recent years. As long as you go back to life also thanks to sport. Kicking the virus.
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