The industrious town of Cesano Maderno, in the province of Monza and Brianza, about twenty kilometers north of Milan, towards Como, is no stranger to hosting the Giro d'Italia caravan. Until now only starts, but Thursday, May 29th is scheduled for a finish with an appetizing final circuit of about 12 km to be repeated twice.

The town's debut with the Giro, with the support of the historic mayor, Hon. Mario Vaghi and the Tranceria Maggioni, occurred in 1979 as the starting point of the final time trial that ended at the athletics track of the historic Arena Civica in Milan, saluting the triumph of a young Giuseppe Saronni, already in pink. Pink on pink in his gallop along the route that developed in the Giro area to enter the metropolis, on a weekday..., from the Sempione direction, a long chrono, 44 km. In the places of honor of the stage, Brescian Visentini at 15" and his friend. At alternating moments, Francesco Moser at 21".

Replay in 2008, again a time trial, again the final stage, finishing in the central Corso Venezia in Milan, this time traveling the old Comasina with a deviation towards Sesto San Giovanni in a setting of densely populated inhabited centers and consequent presence of two real "crowd wings", as they say. Small side note: the mayor was Paolo Vaghi, Mario Vaghi's son, who lowered the start flag. Winner of the 26.500 km chrono was the time trial specialist, Bergamo engineer Marco Pinotti, preceding Martin and Ignatiev. Pink jersey confirmed for Alberto Contador.

The 2008 stage was long advocated by, among others, Fernando Cortinovis, affectionately nicknamed "Lucio Dalla" for his resemblance to the Bolognese artist, press officer of Lampre for patrons Galbusera and friend of Aldo Colombo, supporter of Giuseppe Saronni. Unfortunately, he passed away before realizing his dream and here is the link with his memory by director Pier Augusto Stagi.

To conclude with the starts, it's worth remembering the Giro d'Italia UNDER 23 stage for young riders in 2023 with a conclusion, let's say eventful..., at 2,757 meters of Stelvio Pass.

For many years, Stefano Allocchio has lived in Cesano Maderno, race director of the Giro d'Italia and UCI "safety manager" who represents the cycling instances of Cesano Maderno with a wide circle of various ex-friends - more or less long-standing -, some of whom gladly rely on assisted pedaling. We'll avoid mentioning names and surnames though.

Cycling and bicycles are very much felt and followed in various forms in the Cesano Maderno area. For the youngest aspiring cyclists, a true school for the very young has been, for many years, the Polisportiva Molinello. Several names have passed through here who have established themselves in higher categories, up to professionalism. It remains a point of aggregation even if, currently, it is somewhat affected by the crisis that, moreover, affects various societies, due to objective organizational and recruitment difficulties. However, the members, with President Roberto Carimati and the active Luciano Checchetto at the helm, do not give up.

Very active is the S.C. Cesano Maderno, especially in women's cycling, chaired by Giuseppe Fontana, also president of the active Stage Committee for the Giro arrival and father of Marco Aurelio Fontana, born in nearby Giussano in 1984, a top-level specialist in off-road cycling with an enviable palmares.

Emanuela Menuzzo (1956) was an Italian national team member multiple times.

Cesano Maderno's sporting glory is boxer Ernesto Formenti (1927-1989) gold in featherweight at the 1948 London Olympics.

In football, natives from here include Gigi Radice (1935-2018), long-time Milan member and Scudetto winner as Torino's coach, goalkeeper Umberto Provasi, and Aldo Strada, striker for Varese and Monza, later a councilor in Cesano Maderno.

Wikipedia, erroneously, also indicates the great sprinter Antonio Maspes as being born here. Homer sometimes dozes... Maspes was born in Cesano Boscone in 1932, on the western outskirts of the Lombard capital, Milan, which dedicated its historic Vigorelli Velodrome to the multi-titled speed champion (seven titles accompanied by ten national championships).

The anticipation of Cesano Maderno's arrival was introduced by a crowded meeting, promoted by the municipality with Mayor Gianpiero Bocca, with a prestigious "parterre" and enriched with various events to promote the city with its splendid Palazzo Arese Borromeo where the Stage Quarter will be set up.

There will be no shortage of spectators and two-wheel enthusiasts who, around here, abound in multiple forms.