The 86th edition of the Giro dell'Appennino scheduled today on the roads of Lower Piedmont and Genoa area had its usual prologue last night with the gala dinner at the restaurant of the Mercure Genoa San Biagio hotel.

From the Pontedecimo Sports Union, the presentation of the Appennino d'Oro to a personality from the cycling world and the Appennino d'Argento to a journalist. Fabio Felline, from Turin, born in 1990, last year, at the end of the season, had decided to hang up his bicycle, but just a few weeks ago he chose to return to the peloton by signing a contract with the continental team MBH Bank Ballan CSB Colpack. Felline won the Giro dell'Appennino in 2012 when he was racing with Androni Giocattoli of the unforgettable Gianni Savio who would later become his father-in-law. He recalled that day and the commitment of the entire team to bring him to success.

Liguria has always brought luck to Felline, in 2017, in fact, he won the Trofeo Laigueglia. Yesterday, the presentation of the Appennino d'Oro was a good opportunity to remember Savio "The Prince" who had always been connected to the U.S. Pontedecimo race. Not by chance, in 2022 he had been awarded the Appennino d'Oro. It was his last appearance at the Giro dell'Appennino as last year his health conditions did not allow him to be present. The award to Felline is also an act of love towards Savio. The Turin cyclist explained the reasons why he decided to return to racing, his first races at the end of the season. "It's not a goal, but a dream, I would like to win the Memorial Pantani for the third time".

The Appennino d'Argento was instead awarded to a journalist particularly dear to the Genoese: Gilberto Volpara. A well-known host of Telenord broadcaster, he is the protagonist of a highly followed program where he interviews cycling champions. Volpara recalled the importance of road safety for cyclists, a theme that has always been very sensitive to the U.S. Pontedecimo directors and its president Silvano Parodi.