In Castelnovo and the Apennines, less than two months from the historic date of May 21, the feverish anticipation is rising for the arrival of the 11th stage of the Giro d'Italia, the Viareggio - Castelnovo Monti, in the center of the town.

In view of the highlight day, the Municipal Administration in collaboration with various associations and local economic entities is preparing a series of events gathered under the claim "Giro ne' Monti", which will be detailed in the coming days, but in the meantime some important "previews" are scheduled that will involve the Apennine community.

Starting today, March 28, for example, the "Giro at School" appointments will kick off, a project aimed at students from 10 primary school locations along the race stage route. A series of meetings led by Luca Simonelli that will cover topics of bicycles and cyclists, past and present, the Giro d'Italia and Giro-E (the event dedicated to pedal-assisted bicycles that takes place concurrently with the pink race, which will also arrive in Castelnovo just before the stage finale) and the peculiarities of the event and its caravan. Former champions from the Reggio area like Lauro Grazioli and Paolo Tedeschi will also participate in the meetings, along with local association cycling enthusiasts and emerging young cyclists. On March 28, Giro at School will experience a "special edition" with the students from Cto Labor (Occupational Therapy Center) at their headquarters in the morning.

On March 31, at 9:30 am at the Bismantova Theater, a meeting on cycling values and the Ethical Charter of Sport of the Emilia Romagna Region will be held. Some classes from the lower secondary schools of Castelnovo, Felina, and Villa Minozzo will be present, for a day of sports and civic education that is also part of the Multisport ne' Monti project focused on cycling and the Giro d'Italia. Participants will include Giammaria Manghi, coordinator of sports policies of the Region, Marco Brunale, collaborator of Rcs for the organization of Giro-E, Marco Martinelli, scientific communicator and collaborator of the Sant'Anna University of Pisa. Luca Simonelli will coordinate the meeting.

But the most anticipated and important event of this series of previews will be at 7 pm on Tuesday, April 1, at the Wellness Village Onda della Pietra: the Champions' Aperitif. During the day, Paolo Bettini will be in Castelnovo, Olympic gold medalist in cycling in Athens and at the World Championships in Salzburg and Stuttgart, as well as winner of many classics. Bettini will be the guest of honor at an aperitif open to cycling enthusiasts and others. It will also be an opportunity to wish him a happy birthday, given that Bettini was born on April 1, 1974 (incidentally, the same day as the mayor of Castelnovo, Emanuele Ferrari). For the special toast at Onda della Pietra, another Olympic champion from the Apennine territory will be present, Giuliano Razzoli, gold medalist in slalom at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and other cycling friends and companions, including none other than Davide Cassani, now a commentator for the Giro d'Italia. An unmissable appointment open to the entire community, to meet these great champions.