Davide Cassani was one of the most appreciated team managers in recent years. A former rider and cycling enthusiast, he has always put his experience to good use and now that Christmas is approaching, he wanted to talk about territory and promotion, wishing everyone serene holidays, without forgetting the bicycle, which always has a special place under Davide Cassani's decorated tree. Giro, tourism, territories, investment in structures like Bike Hotels, cycle tourism, foreign enthusiasts: there's no one in Italy more competent than Cassani, who holds the position of director of the Emilia-Romagna Tourism Board and knows perfectly the tourist flows and how his region has grown through sports and investing in sports.

"In Emilia-Romagna we need the Giro, because through emotions it attracts people who want to visit what they've seen on television. In our region, cycling is deeply rooted in the territory and cycling events are fundamental for tourism growth. In two years, we've hosted 500,000 cycle tourists from all over the world with 1.8 million presences. Italy is the most requested nation for cycle tourism."

There have been many events in recent years.
"There's always been a Giro d'Italia stage, we've had the Tour de France in 2024, the 2020 World Championships in Imola, the Giro's Grand Start in Bologna in 2019, and we try to support Gran Fondo events. We also have a Continental team with Emilia-Romagna written on it, so we're also promoting youth cycling. I hope this promotion can encourage companies, small societies, and everyone else to invest or believe more in youth cycling."

Sometimes it's been said that the region doesn't offer major routes that could turn a race around.
"I'm very curious to see what will happen at the Giro on the uphill finish at Corno alle Scale. Everything depends on the routes, because Emilia-Romagna is often a region of passage: sometimes we've had flat finishes and medium mountain routes, but if we want, we can also find hard and difficult, selective climbs."

His speech is perfect, but this year Abruzzo and Blockhaus will host the first mountain finish: can they have the same function as the Central Massif at the Tour?
"Well, Blockhaus can already shake up the rankings, moreover it will be tackled from its hardest side, it's a real climb that has nothing to envy about Alpine climbs. So I believe, yes, Blockhaus will be very important in the next Giro d'Italia."

Battles are fought in high mountains, but can regions like Lazio, Tuscany, and Abruzzo still offer beautiful emotions?
"Central Italy has a territory that lends itself to many battles. I've mentioned Emilia Romagna, but I'm also thinking of Terminillo, Prati di Tivo, Majella, the climbs around Roman Castles, and then the insidious routes of Tuscan gravel roads. We have a country that can offer a lot to cycling, and the South is no less."

What does Davide Cassani wish cycling enthusiasts?
"I want to wish everyone the ability to pedal on safe roads, because we see that safety is an important issue for us. Then I want to tell enthusiasts to come and watch races, bringing family and children, because cycling is a family sport, where people still have fun and where the audience at the finish line can see the great champion without paying a ticket. This is the wish I want to make to all Italians."