After 14 years, the International Tour of Tuscany for Women returns to Viareggio... and does so with a spectacular opening stage. On the splendid seafront of the Versilian capital (and on some roads adjacent to the pine forest), the 28 teams participating in this 29th edition will battle it out to conquer the first pink jersey of the race leader in a suggestive team time trial; a race won not only with the strength of individual elements (6 athletes, with time recorded on the fourth finisher), but with team cohesion and tactics.

At first glance, the 5 km course might suggest minimal time differences, but the history of this specialty, at least in the "Tuscany" race, teaches those with classification ambitions not to underestimate it to avoid having to make up precious seconds of disadvantage.

The team time trial is thus enthusiastically reintroduced by the organization after the great success achieved from 2006 to 2011, when it was precisely the Viareggio roads that proposed this unusual time trial, at least in women's cycling.

"It is with great pleasure," - emphasized race patron Brunello Fanini - "that we return to Viareggio for such an interesting and exciting race. I want to thank the Municipality of Viareggio, all the relevant offices, the Municipal Police, the Law Enforcement, and particularly Mayor Giorgio Del Ghingaro and Sports Councilor Rodolfo Salemi".

And Mayor Del Ghingaro deserves particular praise for his passion for cycling in all its forms. With him, the Viareggio territory has hosted three stages of the men's Giro d'Italia in recent years; now the right space for the "gentler sex".

"Moreover," - added Fanini - "I will never forget what Viareggio did for me and my family by dedicating the Torre del Lago cycling path to my daughter Michela".

The date to remember is Thursday, September 4th, when Viareggio will be "invaded" by a caravan of over 500 people including athletes (about 170), staff, and organizational personnel.

As this is the first stage, the spectacle will double with the official presentation of all competing teams (at 3:00 PM); the first team will start at 4:00 PM, with the last team beginning their ride around 5:30 PM. At 5:45 PM on Viale Belluomini (where the start and finish are located), there will be the awards ceremony and jersey presentation.

It should be noted that of the 28 teams at the start, six are "world tour" and 8 are Italian; for foreign teams, the origin is varied with almost all European countries represented and some interesting participation from other continents.

The "International Tour of Tuscany for Women" will take place from September 4th to 7th with 4 stages scheduled.