Double cycling baptism in the members' room of the Coop Empoli Shopping Center, with representatives of institutions and the Italian Cycling Federation present, featuring the presentation of the 38th Florence-Empoli for elite and under-23 riders and the Maltinti Banca Cambiano team.

In the national classic opening the season, Saturday, February 22nd, 31 teams are registered with 186 athletes. Same route with departure at 11:45 from Piazzale Michelangelo to reach Empoli through Cerbaia, Ginestra Fiorentina, Montelupo. In Via Carraia, the arrival zone, the start of the first of six laps with the climbs of Monteboro and Monterappoli plus the "steep section" of Casette in the final lap, 5 km from the finish, expected between 3:30 and 4 PM after 149 km. The Florence-Empoli will remember Renzo Maltinti, historic president of the organizing association, which relies on the Sports Development Committee of the Empoli Municipality, cycling section chaired by Mauro Terenziani.

A novelty for the Maltinti Lampadari Banca Cambiano team, now close to 50 years of activity, with 6 under-23 and 4 elite riders directed by Leonardo Scarselli, Tiziano Antonini, Corrado Scali and the collaboration of Alfredo Luddi, Renzo Viani, Luciano Picchioni, with Enzo Scarselli as mechanic and Dr. Carlo Gianmattei as team doctor. To the four 2024 athletes, Vignini, Catarzi, Franchini and the Tuscan under-23 champion Salvadori, seven new riders have been added, including experienced riders Andrea Innocenti and Giosuè Crescioli.

The Empoli-based company of siblings Roberto and Cristina Maltinti (president and vice president) will organize, in addition to the Florence-Empoli, also the 47th Gran Premio Città di Empoli on June 14th, starting from the Coop Center and concluding as always in Via Carraia in front of the Maltinti facility. Among those present at the ceremony were Empoli Mayor Alessio Mantellassi with Sports Councilor Lucia Mannucci, the President of the Health and Sports Commission of the Tuscany Region, Enrico Sostegni, Coop Shopping Center Director Federico Olandese, Tuscany Regional Cycling Committee President Luca Menichetti with councilors Andrea Fefè and Massimo Fogli, Florence Provincial Committee President Mario Mecacci who, together with Francesco Zingoni, coordinator of the Commission, will be the race director, while Francesca Mannori will be the jury president. During the presentation, the novelty of establishing a promotional youth event "Cycling Game" in collaboration with the Empoli Municipality was announced, to be held while waiting for the conclusion of the Florence-Empoli. An initiative that will then be proposed by the Regional Committee during other cycling events, starting with the "Strade Bianche" in Siena on Saturday, March 8th.

THE TEAM: Tommaso Catarzi, Francesco Franchini, Pietro Salvadori, Francesco Vignini (confirmed) and the new riders Giosuè Crescioli, Andrea Innocenti, Bernardo Angiolini, Alessio Frius, Andrea Sergiampietri, Andrea Stefanelli, Alessandro Romeo Zanetti.