Giro Next Gen launches tourism in the Aosta Valley
Regional marketing. The pink caravan of under-23 cyclists will bring 800 people to the region for four days. The Region has invested 360 thousand euro to ensure presentation and three stages with television coverage
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The Aosta Valley will be tinged pink for four days, from 8 to 11 June, on the occasion of the presentation and the first three stages of the Giro Next Gen 2024: the most important Italian stage cycling event after the Giro 'dei grandi'. It is in this race reserved for Under-23 cyclists, in fact, that the stars of tomorrow are very often showcased, and it is this year's competition that could bring to the fore the next rivals of Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel, Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel or, perhaps, unveil Vincenzo Nibali's heir. In the past it has been won by Francesco Moser, Marco Pantani, to name but two.
For the Valle d'Aosta - and for the north-west, since two other stages will take place in Piedmont: the Verres-Pian della Mussa and the Pertusio-Borgomanero - in addition to the sporting aspect there is also an important tourist-promotional side. Hosting a bicycle race is always a strong event for thousands of cycling fans. If the event is spread over several days and touches practically the entire region, as in this case, the image and economic effects, both immediate and in perspective, are almost assured.
There are no official figures or confirmations, but the Region has placed its bets on the Giro Next Gen 2024, and in order to ensure the presence of the race over several days, it would have put a little less than 400,000 euros (360,000, according to reports) on the table for the organisers (Rcs Sport from 2023). This investment, however, has important effects: the so-called Giro caravan - 174 riders, 29 teams, technicians, mechanics, assistants, as well as the organisational machine in tow - will occupy Valle d'Aosta accommodation facilities for several days: a cautious estimate by the regional administration speaks of around 800 people. Quite an impact at a time of year that is not yet part of the actual tourist season. In the expectations of the local players, however, the Giro Next Gen should have an effect in the medium to long term, making cycling enthusiasts and spectators who do not yet know the area discover it, and perhaps attracting sports teams to train the athletes at different times of the year. The race will have important television coverage with broadcasts on Rai Sport and Euro Sport, and the routes of the stages will be put on the Strava platform, used by cycling champions but above all by thousands of cycling enthusiasts.
The event will have an official prologue on Saturday 8 June, when the presentation of theparticipating teams in the pink race is scheduled to take place in the new University of Valle d'Aosta at 6.15 p.m.
The following day, Sunday 9 June, the race will get into full swing, with an individual time trial of 8.8 kilometres designed with the start and finish in the capital and a demanding climb in the locality of Coutateppaz, in the municipality of Saint-Christophe: the first competitor will start at 1 p.m., from the forecourt of the Aosta-Pila cable car and the finish is scheduled in the straight stretch of Piazza della Repubblica, in front of the new university campus.
