Among the various rumors anticipating the stages of the 2026 Giro d'Italia, which will be officially presented in Rome on December 1st, along with the Giro Women - often much more than simple rumors, following the popular saying "voice of the people, voice of God" - the start of a stage of next year's pink race in Gemona del Friuli stands out.

This is not just a rumor but a confirmed certainty, validated by a public television declaration by Mauro Vegni in an almost rare, unprecedented version of lively loquaciousness. A loquaciousness not limited to the official announcement of the stage starting from Gemona del Friuli but also, among various hints and non-hints, with somewhat cryptic phrases, also referring to his future after his expected and imminent retirement from RCS Sport.

The announced start from Gemona del Friuli is part of the commemorations of the fiftieth anniversary of the disastrous earthquake that devastated the region in 1976 with various tremors from May to September that year, with a tragic toll of successive seismic events that caused - overall - in the 5,500 sq km affected by the shocks with about 600,000 inhabitants - 990 deaths, over 100,000 displaced, 18,000 houses destroyed, as well as several industrial facilities, by what in the Friulian language is defined by the term of an ancient popular legend "Orcolat". The meaning of the definition is clear in its root and requires no further specification.

The epicenter was precisely in the Gemona area, in the province of Udine, north of the capital, affecting the provinces of Pordenone, Gorizia, and neighboring territories of Austria and Slovenia.

It was a great tragedy faced with incredible courage and reaction, courageously and effectively addressed by the population, proving the tenacity and connection of the Friulian people (a true love, without ostentation or victimhood), a distinctive trait confirmed by locals who immediately rolled up their sleeves, not just metaphorically, with remarkable ability in reconstruction. And in extremely rapid, record-breaking times, supported by national and regional institutions, with the active contribution of the Alpine troops, escaping bureaucratic obstacles that might limit their extraordinary desire to rebuild, always connected to their ancient traditions, of their "fogolar furlan" that gathered families around the fireplace.

And on this occasion, the Civil Protection organization began, led by Giuseppe Zamberletti, a Varese parliamentarian, appointed by the government as emergency commissioner.

The extremely difficult conditions from the devastating earthquakes made it logistically impossible to accommodate the Giro caravan in Friuli and, therefore, a half-stage solution was devised to pay tangible homage to the victims in the heart of the earthquake zone in Gemona del Friuli, reduced to rubble. A situation agreed upon with the unanimous consent of national and local institutions. A small side note: the solution of two half-stages on the same race day was quite popular then to expand consensus. In this edition of the pink race, there were four days of racing with half-stages plus a prologue (individual time trial) from Bacoli to Monte di Procida.

On June 6th, the first stage was held, from Trieste to Gemona del Friuli, with a sprint finish. The winner was the fast Flemish rider Marc Demeyer from Latina-Flandria, the team of Freddy Maertens (already retired due to a fall) and Michel Pollentier, who would wear the pink jersey in the image still on Francesco Moser's shoulders, which the Belgian would then successfully maintain until Milan. Demeyer died very young, at only 31, from cardiac arrest in January 1982. In second place was the fast Brescian Pier Mattia Gavazzi.

In the afternoon, the second stage from Gemona to Conegliano, which curiously rewarded Gavazzi's winning sprint over Demeyer. These were two tight, group sprints.

Memories of the first stage's finish in Gemona in 1977 recall an event deliberately conceived and organized with maximum sobriety, with essential local structures, minimal advertising exposure, limited to regulatory signage, as crudely and dramatically demonstrated by the images and video clips posted online.

Practically, the usual Giro finish structures of those times, much more reduced compared to current standards, were all directed and mounted at the Conegliano finish.

The somewhat "sui generis" stage headquarters was located in a complex of structures now definable as multipurpose, in sheet metal, placed near the Willy Hotel, then partially usable and later rebuilt, which flanked - as now - the Pontebbana state road, after the race finale, coming from the south, turning right, traveled the gentle ascent towards Gemona for about 300 meters, precisely in Dante Avenue. And here the finish line banner was placed. It was impossible to proceed further due to the evident and still fresh, profound urban structural wounds. The group's transfer before the second half-stage start nonetheless involved passing, obviously not racing, through the devastated Gemona town, which impressed and moved riders and entourage.

In the complex near the Willy Hotel, riders were hosted for showers and a common meal (very frugal) consisting of plain rice and/or pasta for everyone, steak or chicken, ham, vegetables, and fruit prepared skillfully and served quickly to the cycling diners, all together, without typical rider goofing around, deeply absorbed in the dramatic reality.

We remember the names of active collaborators like Ivano Benvenuti, mayor at the time, and Claudio Sandruvi, sports councilor, who later became mayor, who coordinated the work of valid and precise local volunteers. And Claudio Sandruvi is still mayor of the neighboring municipality of Montenars.

In 2006, the rebuilt Gemona del Friuli was the finish of the stage from Austrian Sillian, with German Stefan Schumacher's victory, while in 2014 it hosted the start of the final stage ending in Trieste, concluded with Slovenian Luka Mezgec's victorious sprint and Nairo Quintana's overall win. It was the era of many initiatives by the late, versatile, productive promoter Enzo Cainero, with Gabriele Marini as mayor and former collaborator of the 1977 stage committee, along with Paolo Urbani designated to take Enzo Cainero's legacy. Several editions of the professional Giro del Friuli also involved the Friulian town.

We recall that for the 1977 stage, the race organization did not receive any economic contribution beyond the practical collaboration with local people and structures.

Looking back, we can remember a discreet gesture by the volcanic Teofilo Sanson, whose name needs no further introduction, patron of the squadron bearing his name, the youngest of eight children, native of Scomigo, a Conegliano fraction, who discreetly channeled a tangible increase in the contribution allocated for the Conegliano finish pro-Gemona for earthquake victims. In 1976, the multifaceted sports patron Teofilo had acquired ownership and presidency of Udinese calcio and quickly led it from Serie C to Serie A.

These were the things that happened in those times.