The Chianti Classico area is set to host a potentially decisive stage in next year’s Giro d’Italia cycling race – one of the most celebrated events in the sporting calendar.
Many of the world’s best cyclists will take part in a time trial through the vineyards in the heart of Tuscany‘s Chianti Classico zone next May, with the challenging course linking Radda and Greve in Chianti.
The ninth stage in the 99th staging of the Giro d’Italia will take place on Sunday, 15 May, following a 40km course including steep climbs and descents – and few straight roads.
‘The competitors will set off one at a time, for the whole day, during which the world’s cameras will be filming our area, making us the backdrop for one of the stages in the best and most exciting cycling race in the world,’ said Sergio Zingarelli, president of the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico.
The event is part of planned celebrations to mark the 300th anniversary of the date in 1716 when the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo III de’Medici, proclaimed the demarcation of the Chianti production zone.
‘Our board of directors has worked very hard alongside RCS-Gazzetta dello Sport to place the image of our wine alongside an event of international reach, making it part of the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico’s many promotional activities for this area,’ said Zingarelli.
First held in 1909, the Giro is one of the cycling world’s most prestigious races – to many, second only to the Tour de France – and was won this year by Spanish rider Alberto Contador.
