Over a hundred guests, including representatives of local, provincial and regional authorities, law enforcement, business and association worlds, attended the gala dinner on Monday evening at Parco Tegge in Felina, organized by the Municipal Administration as part of the initiatives in preparation for the arrival of the Giro d'Italia on May 21st, with the 12th stage from Viareggio to Castelnovo Monti.

Welcoming the guests was Mayor Emanuele Ferrari, who emphasized how this event represents an epochal passage for the town, the result of years of work in sports, bringing it to be a fundamental asset for the Apennine territory from a socio-economic perspective. The town's first citizen thanked the Region for its constant support, inviting Giammaria Manghi, Coordinator for Sports Policies of the Emilia-Romagna Region, to speak. Manghi in turn highlighted the educational function of sports and its fundamental role in promoting the territory, and particularly how the Giro d'Italia over the years has helped introduce vast audiences (more than 700 million viewers worldwide) to lesser-known Italian locations, their environmental excellence, as will happen with the stage that will pass near the Triassic Gypsum area, a UNESCO heritage site, and beneath the Bismantova Stone, as well as historical significance, which will occur the following day with the stage dedicated to Matildic castles. Enrico Grassi, founder and president of E80 Group and president of the Stage Committee, also intervened, explaining: "I immediately agreed to the proposal of Castelnovo's mayor to support this great event, because we have always had a strong bond with the Apennine territory, particularly with its young people, and we saw the Giro's passage as a great showcase for what characterizes and makes us unique".

Special guests of the evening were Giro d'Italia Director Mauro Vegni, RAI commentator and former national cycling team coach Davide Cassani, and Gianni Bugno, winner of the 1990 Giro and two-time world champion.

Prompted on stage by journalist Luca Simonelli, Bugno and Cassani recalled various moments of their careers, successes that were always the result of team strategies, particularly when they were teammates in the national team and also during the 1995 season with Giancarlo Ferretti's Mg Technogym. A historic relationship that made their conversation extremely engaging. 'At the Stuttgart World Championship, I was in a breakaway and was happy thinking about Bugno's situation, who indeed entered the decisive action and won. I remained under the podium during the awards, hearing the Italian anthem made me proud because I felt that world championship was partly mine too', Cassani said. 'Like with children, no victory is more beautiful than others: I've always been someone who looks to tomorrow, which is why I don't dwell too much on the past', Bugno said, joking about his difficult relationship with celebrations 'because on a couple of occasions I raised my arms too early (at the Tour of Flanders he waited more than a quarter of an hour before being certain he had won, ed.)'.

Vegni recounted the birth of the Infinity Trophy, the prize for the Giro winner, which he brought and displayed in the Parco Tegge hall, becoming the object of many photos by enthusiasts and considered one of the most iconic and beautiful sports trophies in the world. The Giro director also emphasized that the stage from Viareggio to Castelnovo Monti could certainly be a very interesting stage of the 2025 Giro. In this dialogue, Roberto Reverberi, sports director of Vf Group Bardiani CSF-Faizanè, the Reggio-based team that will be at the start of the pink race for the 43rd time, also intervened.

The dinner prepared by chefs from local restaurants was highly appreciated: Geremia, La Baita d'oro, Il Capolinea, Pastry Pop pastry shop, with the collaboration of the Parco Tegge staff and students from the Mandela Institute serving.

The upcoming edition is one for which anticipation is constantly rising in the Apennines, also thanks to the many events planned involving the community and many local realities.

The next event is scheduled for Saturday, April 12th: an event open to everyone's participation, which will take place from 8:30 am at the Bismantova Stone. "A Stone of Love... infinite", this is the event's title that takes up the Giro d'Italia claim (infinite love) will be a collective performance aimed at sharing love for the Bismantova Stone. All together, dressed in pink, participants will climb to the summit plateau of the Stone to draw the infinity symbol with a large pink cloth (made of recycled material fabric). The event will be coordinated by artist Simona Sentieri, with technical collaboration from Cai Bismantova, Eden Sport e Salute, Wellness Village Onda della Pietra and Croce Verde of Castelnovo Monti and Vetto.