As a rider, he did the "triple", racing all three Grand Tours and winning four stages at the Giro and two at the Vuelta a España. Now Stefano Allocchio, 63, will complete his collection as a race director.

Saturday marks the start of the Vuelta from Piedmont, more precisely from Venaria Reale. He will be on the lead car of the direction, the Giro director, who was already borrowed from Aso, the Tour de France organizer, last year, who relied on the knowledge and experience of the "pink" staff for the Italian stages. Given the excellent outcome, this year it will be replicated with the Grand Start of the Spanish race. "It's clear that it's a great satisfaction to make our experience available to the Aso friends," Stefano Allocchio explained to tuttobiciweb, "but it's equally true that it's a huge responsibility that we at Rcs Sport & Events are always used to taking on."

The "pink team" will also include Paolo Longo Borghini, for years a reference point for "Gazzetta" races (also a race director), Luca Papini (new secretary general of professional cycling league, for years a top figure at Rcs Sport with particular attention to team relations), Marco Della Vedova (route inspector) and last but not least Giusy Virelli (project manager of the Women's Giro and liaison figure for all Gazzetta races). Added to these are the motorcyclists from Delta Bikes and the State Police.

"We are a great team," Allocchio adds, "and we will have the honor and burden of leading one of the most important stage races in the world on our roads. Is there emotion after so many years of races? That never fails, and as a good Inter fan, this time I can say I'm happy to do a new 'triple', since the first one I did as a rider. And since I'm now up to two 'triples', I hope it's a good omen for my colors."

And speaking of colors, the pink staff will likely arrive up to Monginevro next Tuesday, before leaving the race in the hands of the Vuelta organizers. This is also because the role of race director is an entirely Italian thing. Beyond the border, the responsibility lies solely with the organization, while compliance with race rules remains the prerogative of the jury panel.