'Being able to watch a stage live behind the scenes is wonderful because the commentators themselves are a show', says Davide Cassani. And a true spectacle they confirm to be the former national coach-commentator and his two television travel companions, Francesco Pancani and Fabio Genovesi, in telling the Giro and especially in telling themselves to the audience at the theater in Castelnuovo ne' Monti in one of the many initiatives with which the center of the Reggio mountain area approaches the historic stage finish on May 21st.

An hour and a half at a rapid pace, describing work methods and narrating situations, without sparing those little jabs that in a special adventure like the pink race become cement for beautiful and lasting friendships. Introduced by Mayor Emanuele Ferrari and regional sports coordinator Gianmaria Manghi, pressed by Luca Simonelli's questions, the trio of Rai voices that we won't see at the next Giro (Cassani will be moved to the "Processo", with Stefano Garzelli replacing him as the technical voice) do not hide, nor spare themselves before the Castelnovese audience. In anecdotes, adventures, and habits of a nomadic life that is ultimately the true charm of what is mistakenly considered just a sporting event.

As in race days, the role of designated victim ('I admit we often bully him', says Pancani) always falls to Fabio Genovesi, a successful writer and for years the narrative voice of the history and culture of the territory being crossed. 'At first, I was really out of context, I even got insults on social media: it wasn't that others didn't understand my role, I was the first not to understand it. Then Francesco and I worked on it, and my relationship with live broadcasting improved. I've followed cycling since I was little, I come from a family of Taliban where only bikes exist and they don't know what football is, I even tried to pedal but at eight years old a technician told my parents that pure talent is like the absence of talent: both are immediately apparent. TV does a lot for cycling, but it can't make you understand how tough the climbs are. And the cold too, which I suffer terribly from: as a child, I couldn't wait for the mountain stages, now that I climb with the race it's a torment, especially because my position is in a corner and there's always a draft that freezes me, but the passion for bikes makes you overcome everything. Pancani and Cassani? As a viewer, they were my idols, so I was afraid of being disappointed when I met them: instead, they're better than I thought, even when they treat me badly, there's affection'.

True affection, reciprocated by Cassani ('Genovesi is an important writer, but when he comes to the Giro he behaves like the lowest-ranking student'), and by Pancani, who on stage behaves like a 'director' as when he's live, playing with them as in the race. 'There's no adjective for Cassani: he's Cassani period. When he's not on air, he starts eating, off-air he's a war machine, does a thousand things: when he says yes to everyone who wants him, he doesn't just say it, but always honors his commitments. So much so that a year ago, on the day of his return to TV after his stint as national coach, he almost didn't make it on stage on time. With Cassa, you always have to keep your cell phone on: if he thinks of something, he'll call you even at midnight. But the curiosity he has, other commentators don't have it. Genovesi also has no adjectives: he's Genovesi period. He gets up at six, eats only fruits and vegetables, but his breakfast lasts at least two hours, the time to prepare his fruit salad cutting pieces while standing, obviously in a bowl of the right size. It's his travel worry, I remember when in a high-altitude hotel he went as far as asking for a papaya'.

Different and strange each in their own way, 'united by the pleasure of being together', Pancani recalls. It's also the recipe for doing good work, as Cassani emphasizes. 'If the commentaries are good, it's because there's great understanding: everyone brings something. The strength of a team like this is feeling that you're doing something with people you can trust', says the former national coach, greeting Bruno Reverberi, who launched him in cycling and was present in the audience. 'Without him, I wouldn't have done everything I did. Bruno allowed me to fulfill a dream. I started with him forty-plus years ago, he already seemed old to me then, since then he's remained the same, he never seems to age'.

And more anecdotes ('Pancani sleeps while traveling while others look for a place to eat, then suddenly opens an eye and says: the restaurant is there after the curve', says Genovesi), proposals to improve live broadcasts ('We could try with audio on the road, but in 200 kilometers there's a risk of losing the line and when we tried, there were only beeps to cover the swear words', says Pancani), the commemorative jersey gifted by cycling enthusiasts from the University of Pedal with councilor Carlo Boni, even an instinctive claim for the Pietra di Bismantova that will be the most beautiful natural monument of the next Giro ('Seeing it for the first time, I said oh: it's a strong effect, this expression represents it well'), before reminding Castelnovo that the May 21st stage should be an occasion, 'indeed: the occasion'. Also to relive evenings like this.