SALSOMAGGIORE TERME (PR) – These are the last few weeks to prepare your legs, and then the Salsomaggiore Terme "Bici in Comune" excursion program will get into full swing with the first rides . After all, with two ambassadors like Gianni Bugno and Claudio Chiappucci, it's only natural that the cycling calendar should include and feature stages, just like the two champions did in the 90s during the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France.
There are seven official dates to discover the areas around Salsomaggiore, combining nature, history, and excellent food and wine: May 2, June 1, June 27, July 18, September 19, September 26, and October 3. To book, simply go to the Visitsalsomaggiore portal and follow the simple instructions.
Participate and have fun
The "Bici in Comune" project is now in its practical phase. For a fee of €50, each participant will have access to a complete adventure , including an official welcome kit, an Emilialand bracelet (the platform dedicated to the Emilian regions and surrounding areas) with exclusive discounts and benefits at participating businesses, a professional cycling guide (led by Ivan Saracca), technical assistance along the route, medical insurance, entrance fees and tastings at the participating locations, and a final toast.
Those who don't have their own bicycle shouldn't be discouraged. The participation fee includes the possibility of renting a e-bikeAnd those who do not have technical clothing or other equipment can rent them at discounted rates.At that point you'll need to get in the saddle and immerse yourself in something that's more than a sporting event, a truly exclusive experience to be enjoyed to the fullest.
Among the hills and castles of Salsomaggiore
Currently, only the first two stages of the event have their own dedicated titles, but that's enough to entice cycling enthusiasts to come to the spa town: "El Diablo on Tour" with Claudio Chiappucci on May 2nd and "Salso Hills" with Gianni Bugno on June 1st . Between these dates, both will be competing in the next GiroE as team captains, where they'll have the opportunity to keep their legs in shape.
While the first route covers 55 kilometers, stopping at a local Parmigiano-Reggiano dairy, the MuMab (Museum of the Ancient Sea and Biodiversity), the Fidenza Village, and Scipione Castle, the second itinerary is a short, intense loop 33 kilometers long (with an altitude difference of 800 meters) that visits the beauty of the castles of Tabiano and Contignaco , ending on the picturesque hills of the Salsomaggiore golf course.
Cycling alongside Bugno
In the history of the Giro d'Italia, only four winners have managed to wear the pink jersey, symbol of victory, from the first to the last stage: Costante Girardengo, Alfredo Binda, Eddy Merckx, and Gianni Bugno . The Milanese rider—world champion in 1991 and 1992 and the winner of nearly 80 career victories, including Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders— will be a sort of additional "guide," along with his friend and former rival Chiappucci, for every participant. In short, a great privilege.
" Salsomaggiore ," Bugno tells us, "is a place I've known since I was a runner, and now it's a world worth talking about and promoting . It has a unique landscape, which is the real added value to the routes we'll be taking. It's always been famous primarily for its spas, but there's so much more. I must say that being an ambassador is an honor and makes me feel good. It's a role I'm slowly getting used to."
"Compared to the GiroE," he concludes, "where I ride with people who follow cycling more and know who I was, in Salsomaggiore we'll have a different target audience where perhaps, rightly, not everyone knows me. Letting them discover it by riding and chatting with them will be nicer and undoubtedly more natural. Also, doing this type of activity with Claudio is fun. He and I were rivals, but we're extremely close . We represented a period with our challenges, and now we continue to do so by riding with many cycle tourists. It's really nice, and for all of this, we look forward to seeing you in Salso ."
