The time schedule for the Imperia-Novi Ligure stage assigns Pasturana something more than the role of a simple passage point. Indeed, because that municipality crossed by the peloton 6.8 km from the finish has a mayor who is a professional in the field, Massimo Subbrero, the driving force behind a cycling club with a consolidated and proud presence on the map of Italian amateur cycling, namely Overall Team. “

«We were born as Spinettese in 1998, evolving that structure at the federal level. We then became Girardengo and we found on our path the generous support of Alfonso Pratis and his Alplast. I like to remember how important the presence at our side of the unforgettable Ettore Milano and of an entrepreneur so attentive to cycling and the territory, Tarcisio Persegona, was. A series of subsequent name changes, but always with Pasturana as our operational heart, have brought us here, giving us no small amount of satisfaction».

Subbrero, wearing the tricolor sash, is facing a particularly demanding day: after having checked (as responsible for the finish line area) that everything is in order in Novi Ligure, around 3 PM he will not fail to position himself roadside together with his fellow citizens: Pasturana is not New York, with about 1,200 inhabitants, but with two wheels it also gains greater visibility, not ephemeral.

In this sense, the initiative to rename with banners the hairpin turns of the climb that leads from Francavilla to Pasturana should be seen, where one curve has been dedicated to Coppi, another to Girardengo and the last to all the great champions of world cycling. The mayor has a wish: «We would like those banners never to disappear. For the first time the Giro d'Italia passes through here, we wanted to celebrate as it should be, also organizing a special evening, on the eve of the Roubaix, with the great Francesco Moser as our guest. Not only that: even the municipal newsletter has exceptionally changed color, from yellow to pink, not forgetting that in nearby Novi Ligure initiatives have been organized at the Museum of the Campionissimi. All opportunities to consolidate the historical and otherwise bond between the territory and two wheels, something we believe in very much even among local administrators».

So, the hairpin turns, iconic and likely to be stormed by enthusiasts: «The setup with the banners is appreciated, it can become permanent and already in recent days several cycling enthusiasts have stopped for a souvenir photo». And perhaps for a snack, given that Pasturana will host “Giro in Tavola”, an exhibition of typical products associated with extraordinary openings of Castello Gavotti, the Lombard church and also the Library, home to exhibitions dedicated to the bicycle.