It's official: Gibi Baronchelli has entered the ranks of the talkative. Nothing like the Tista Baronchelli of his competitive period, introverted and sparse with words. Gianbattista Baronchelli now exudes vitality and is inclined to show. The former champion demonstrated this on the stage of the Teatro all'Antica in Sabbioneta, a municipality in the Province of Mantua, during an evening organized by the Panguaneta group and the stage committee of the Modena-Viadana Giro d'Italia 2025.

Luca Selini and the "Panguaneta" executives, Giuliano Leali from the "Sports Veterans" and other Virgilian managers have carefully set up an event that attracted a numerous and interested audience to the beautiful Teatro all'Antica. The Teatro all'Antica has a spectacular architecture and the entire Sabbioneta is a UNESCO heritage site.

Journalist Paolo Biondo, known for cycling services on television and print media of the Po Valley, brilliantly conducted the institutional part of the evening. Journalist Alessandro Brambilla interviewed Baronchelli, recalling the champion's achievements. "Sandro" Brambilla naturally also shared anecdotes about Gibi Baronchelli, born in Ceresara (Mantua) on September 6, 1953, and raised in Arzago d'Adda (Bergamo). The journalist-commentator highlighted the presence of other cycling guests: Ercole Gualazzini, who as a rider won 4 stages in the Giro d'Italia and 2 in the Tour de France, Ruggero Gialdini, from Mantua's Guidizzolo, first in the 1975 Giro d'Italia for amateurs, Luigi Roncaglia, twice world champion in team pursuit.

In the province of Mantua, those representing the family of Learco Guerra, the "human locomotive", could not be missing - the first rider in history to wear the pink jersey on May 10, 1931, although the Giro was born in 1909. Learco Guerra junior was indeed on stage. Brambilla emphasized that the great Learco Guerra, in addition to winning the World Road Championship - a title awarded after an extremely long individual time trial - and other legendary competitions, later distinguished himself as a sports director for the Guerra Sports Group and Faema. Learco junior recalled the success of Swiss rider Carlo Clerici in the 1954 Giro d'Italia, achieved also thanks to the advice of the "human locomotive" sports director.

Brambilla provoked Baronchelli on several occasions. The most particular concerned the 1978 Giro d'Italia: "Tista," Brambilla said, "many continue to complain about your second place in the 1974 Giro d'Italia, 12" behind Eddy Merckx. However, you lost that 1974 Giro as a neo-professional and were preceded by the number one in cycling. The defeat was understandable. In reality, the Giro you lost badly was in 1978, when you finished 2nd in the general classification, 59" behind the pink jersey Johan De Muynck. It's a Giro that you Scic riders lost on the third day: in the stage with Monte Serra and finish in Cascina, you failed to catch De Muynck, not a Merckx or a Hinault or a Coppi".

This topic sparked Gibi: "On Monte Serra we passed 20" behind De Muynck. In Scic, Beppe Saronni was with me, slightly delayed. The sports director Chiappano told us to wait for him, then organize the chase. We did it, but in the meantime De Muynck gained a greater advantage that we couldn't reduce in the final kilometers. It was only the third day of the race, but it became decisive for De Muynck's victory".

The talk show host also explored Baronchelli's 2 victories in the Giro di Lombardia, the 1980 Frankfurt Grand Prix, and many of Baronchelli's other beautiful victories. In his career, Gibi, including some circuits organized by Nino Recalcati, won 93 races. Brambilla also focused on the 1975 Laigueglia Trophy. "You won it à la Merckx," he told the champion. "A beautiful, unforgettable victory," was GB's reply, "paradoxically obtained by mistake. To win at Laigueglia, I started preparation very early, forcing the pace. I then arrived at the Giro d'Italia almost empty. The 1975 Giro had the final stage at Stelvio Pass, it was made for me. But in the last days, I could barely pedal. On the eve of the last stage, Alleghe-Stelvio Pass, I was 4th in the general classification. At the top of Stelvio, I became 10th overall". That Giro was won by Bertoglio with 41" over Galdos.

The Italian Cycling Federation was represented in Sabbioneta by Adriano Roverselli, a member of the Lombard Committee, and Fausto Armanini, president of the Provincial Committee of Mantua. "Last year," Armanini declared, "we had the start of the individual time trial of the Giro d'Italia in Mantuan territory. This year we have the stage finish in Viadana. Having the Giro in two consecutive editions is a pride for our province. Not to mention that we recently hosted the Giro d'Italia Next Gen and the Women's Giro. I'm very happy". The Mayor of Sabbioneta, Marco Pasquali, expressed his enthusiasm for the Giro d'Italia's presence in the territory on May 22. The Giro returns to transit through Sabbioneta after 52 years. The town on the Modena-Viadana route is in the finale and will be broadcast worldwide. At the end of the evening, Paolo Biondo impeccably conducted the series of awards.