Giro 102, on the road with clean energy
The 16th stage of the Giro d'Italia 102 is an all-Lombardy affair, stretching from Lake Iseo to the Val Camonica, via another valley, the Valtellina. The 194-kilometre course includes an elevation change of around 4,800 metres and an unusually tough climb, which has never been part of the race before. This is near Cevo and features 1,054 metres of altitude and 10kilometres of road, with an average gradient of 6%. The stage’s itinerary also marks another important milestone – through Enel Green Power we are bringing a new development programme to the Alps and other mountain areas of Italy, with their breathtaking panoramas. The objective is to promote sustainable tourism, and the initiative took off recently with a pilot project in the Piedmont region.
The purpose is to safeguard and promote the flora, fauna and scenic heritage of the areas where EGP’s installations are located, especially the hydro-electric plants, which constitute Italy’s main renewable energy resource. To achieve this we are installing e-vehicle recharging infrastructure at various strategic points, thereby enabling e-vehicle drivers to enjoy the wonderful landscapes these mountains offer, and to do so in the most environmentally-respectful way.
Carlo Pignoloni, Head of Enel Green Power Italy, says that the project also aims to relaunch the social and economic fabric of the areas involved. “We know that the development of tourism in these areas can bring new life to places that have been gradually depopulated over the years. Backed by almost 500 installations in beautiful locations in the Alps, Apennines and the islands, we believe we can extend this programme and bring prosperity to many areas, creating shared value, which is one of our main development targets.”
Stage 16 of the Giro 102, starting from Lovere on Lake Iseo, includes three more demanding climbs, including the arduous Mortirolo (with an average gradient of 10% and a maximum gradient of 18%), where Marco Pantani became something of a legend in 1994. The finishing line is at Ponte di Legno, the last village in the Val Camonica, on the border with the Trentino region, among the glaciers of Mount Adamello to the south and those of the Ortles-Cevedale group of mountains to the north. It is a well-known summer and winter holiday venue, in the heart of a tourist area that is eagerly welcoming the drive towards increasing sustainability.