Despite the limitations, many initiatives for the arrival of the longest stage. Some roads have already been cordoned off. The provincial ones close from 1.30pm
STRADELLA. Everything is ready in eastern Oltrepo to welcome the 18th stage of the Giro d’Italia, which today, Thursday 27 May, arrives in Stradella after having crossed 35 km of hills, passing through Zenevredo, Montù Beccaria, Montescano, Castana, Cigognola, Broni and Canneto Pavese.
The entry of the runners into the province is scheduled for 4.11 pm in Zenevredo, while the race will cross the finish line in Piazza Trieste in Stradella at around 5.30 pm; two hours before, however, the Giro-E will arrive, the version of the pink Corsa with pedal assisted bikes, which will see the participation of a local team, led by world champion Gianni Bugno, with Professor Raffaele Bruno, head of Malattie infectious diseases of the San Matteo, the “patient 1” of Covid-19 Mattia Maestri and the provincial commander of the Guardia di Finanza, Luigi Macchia.
Despite the limitations imposed by the pandemic, the territory is preparing for a real “pink” party, as a signal to restart after many difficult months.
In Stradella, the arrival of the stage will be preceded, in the morning, by a series of collateral events: at 11, in the area of the Committee in via Battisti, the book by Raffaella Costa, with photographs by Marcella Milani, “Oltrepo Pavese , the 100 wonders (+1) ”, in the presence of the regional councilor for agriculture, Stefano Bruno Galli, the mayor of Stradella Alessandro Cantù, councilor Andrea Frustagli and other institutional figures. At 1.30 pm, however, in the village in piazzale Gramsci, the exhibition of typical local products and De.Co products will begin. of the Municipality of Stradella (Miccone di Stradella, Salame nostrano, Bacon with rind, “La Torre” cake), accompanied by the music of the accordions of the town’s artisan workshops, in collaboration with the museums. In the events area, moreover, there will be the stand of the Pro loco – Promoltrepo Stradella, where the official bottle of the Giro stage will be on sale, produced by Cantine Giorgi, and it will be possible to buy the bags with the logo “Compriamo a Stradella ”, The proceeds of which will be donated to the associations“ Gli Amici di Teo ”and Anffas Broni-Stradella.
«We are ready, we welcome the Giro d’Italia with enthusiasm – assures the mayor Cantù -. The fellow mayors of the municipalities where the pink race will pass have had the same enthusiasm and the same attention to ensure that there is an excellent result and I thank them one by one. The Oltrepadano area has shown its ability to work as a team, now we continue in this direction ».
Meanwhile, the road changes in Stradella began on Wednesday afternoon: starting at 5 pm the local police officers closed the roads in the arrival area; on Thursday 27th, the provincial roads crossed by the stage will close about two and a half hours before the passage of the runners (therefore around 13.30). In Stradella the schools will be closed all day, while in the other Municipalities the lessons will end earlier.
«The organizational machine was very efficient and professional – concludes Cantù -. I thank all those who have worked: from the organizers of the Giro d’Italia to the Oltrepo Sporting Events Committee, from the council to the councilors, from municipal employees to technical suppliers, up to journalists. A special thanks to the police and to those who deal with security ».