The 49th Giro della Lunigiana has just concluded, and it's time to review The Race of Future Champions that has registered impressive numbers both in sporting performance and social media engagement. 1,506,533 views on Instagram during the week. A record number to which we can add the 801,645 views on Facebook. Established segments like #LunigianaCaffè and #LunigianaTech were complemented by content and interviews produced by Martin Luciano and Tommaso Poli from DNF Podcast and Flavio Serafini.
2 Historic starts. The first stage departure from Genoa, specifically from Piazza De Ferrari, where a cycling race had never started before, and the second stage start from Alberto Picco Stadium in La Spezia, an absolute first for the Race of Future Champions. 2 Seff Van Kerckhove is the second Belgian rider to win the final Green Jersey of the Lunigiana Tour. His only predecessor is Remco Evenepoel, winner of the 2018 edition who has since opened an impressive palmares including three professional world championships, two Olympic golds, a Vuelta a España, and two Liège-Bastogne-Liège victories.
19 Years since the previous success by a first-year category rider. Daniele Ratto achieved this in 2006. The rider representing Lombardy came very close to a repeat, finishing second behind Giorgio Cecchinel in 2007.
1 Anatol Friedl's victory marks the first-ever stage win for Austria. The national team had previously won the general classification in 2008 with Stefan Mair.
3 The general classification position of Giacomo Rosato from Veneto. The team led by Gianluca Geremia returns to the podium after 4 years, following Alessandro Pinarello's third-place finish.
42 Kristian Haugetun in Vezzano Ligure ended the Norwegian victory drought that had lasted since 1983, when Jørn Skaane won the second stage. The overall classification victory remains elusive, slipping away with Haugetun's fall during the final stage.
11 Road victories this season for three-time world track champion Alessio Magagnotti. His latest win in Marina di Massa represents the only Italian success in this edition. The Italian colors dominated the first seven positions in the final sprint.
10 Johan Blanc's double brings the French national team into double-digit victories. The first stage win was achieved by Mickael Delage in 2002.
3 Doubles for BFT Burzoni, who dominated the fourth edition of the women's race. Stage wins for Agata Campana and Alessia Orsi, with overall victory going to Elisa Orsi.
41.767 The winner's final average. 97 riders completed the race. Black Jersey goes to Edoardo Raschi from Emilia Romagna, who finished 38'04" behind Van Kerckhove.
50 Next year, the Lunigiana Tour will reach an important milestone of 50 editions. Don't miss it, as we're sure to see some more exciting racing.