The countdown is on to the 102nd Giro d’Italia. With exactly 102 days to go to the start, the host cities were illuminated pink, the colour that symbolises the Italian sporting event par excellence and, of course, the famous Pink Jersey of which Enel is official sponsor once again this year.
Unlike last year, the Giro 102 will take place entirely in Italy, starting in Bologna on 11 May and straying only briefly outside the Italian borders into San Marino. Indeed Bologna and San Marino were two of the cities that lit up one of their emblematic sites in pink: the historic Palazzo del Podestà, on Piazza Maggiore, in Bologna’s case, and the Three Towers in the case of the world’s oldest republic.
Across the rest of Italy, the host cities bathed in pink light monuments of major artistic standing (such as the Mausoleum of Theodoric in Ravenna and the Ghirlandina bell tower at the Duomo in Modena) or archaeological (the Temple of Jupiter Anxur in Terracina and the Arch of Augustus in Aosta) or natural (the Segantini mountain lodge in San Martino di Castrozza) significance. There were even a few tourist-related sites such as beach huts at Riccione and ski slopes in Ponte di Legno.
Also in the mix were artworks of major spiritual significance, such as Renzo Piano’s Obelix Cross in the Church of San Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo and sites symbolising special anniversaries: the Emiciclo (the “Hemicycle”) regional government building in L’Aquila, a decade after 2009’s devastating earthquake, and the Museo dei Campionissimi (“Museum of Champions”) in Novi Ligure, 100 years on from the birth of cycling legend Fausto Coppi, who was an honorary citizen of the town.
Last but not least, was the iconic Roman amphitheatre and one of the world’s most popular attractions, the Verona Arena, where the Giro ends on 2 June.
Over three weeks, the riders will cover some 3,518.5 kilometres, with an overall elevation change of 46,500 metres in what promises to be one of the toughest routes of recent years. Enel will be following every step of the race from start to finish once again this year. This confirms just how closely the Giro reflects our core values (energy, sustainability, beauty and innovation) and our focus on local areas. It’s a hugely successful partnership: Enel, like the Giro, is an ambassador for Italian excellence across the globe. Stay tuned.