On Friday, May 22, the thirteenth stage Alessandria-Verbania of the 109th Giro d'Italia will be preceded by a new edition of "A Tour Within the Tour", an amateur cycling initiative dedicated to Banca Mediolanum clients and cycling enthusiasts, organized along the route of the pink race. In 2026, Banca Mediolanum renews, for the 24th consecutive year, its support for the Giro d'Italia as the official sponsor of the Mountain Prize, confirming its bond with the Azure Jersey and with one of the most followed and participated sporting events in the country. "A Tour Within the Tour" offers participants the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the race up close, anticipating the passage of the professionals and pedaling along the stage route.

VERBANIA, THE STAGE OF BALANCE

In this tenth stage of 2026, Alessandro Ballan, Paolo Bettini and Dalia Muccioli, protagonists of some of the most significant pages in Italian cycling history, will pedal alongside participants along a route that leads from Stresa to Verbania, crossing a territory where lake and mountain coexist in a unique natural balance. Here, balance is expressed in the ability to harmonize different elements, facing even the most complex passages and rhythm changes that characterize these roads. Piedmont has always been a land deeply connected to the history of the pink race and the Pink Jerseys, such as the one conquered by Gianni Motta in the historic Arona-Brescia stage. The meeting point is scheduled at the Banca Mediolanum stand in Stresa in Piazza Guglielmo Marconi at 11:30 AM, with the ride departure set for 12:05 PM. Arrival is expected in Verbania, on the same finish line that shortly after will see the professionals' competition conclude. The initiative is organized by the Verbania Family Banker Office, a place of value and custodian of relationships, where listening and trust have always represented the principles underlying Banca Mediolanum's consulting model. Over the last 24 years, this bond has translated into an increasingly widespread presence in the territory: Banca Mediolanum has grown in Piedmont, where it now has 35 Family Banker Offices, 334 consultants and over 97,000 clients (Data source: Banca Mediolanum Business Intelligence office as of 04/30/2026). A growth that is not only numerical, but an expression of a relationship built over time founded on being a community.

"TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE" THE MEDIOLANUM FOUNDATION PROJECT FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

In 2026, Mediolanum Foundation renews its commitment to minors by supporting "Towards Independence", the year's new fundraising initiative. The project was created to guarantee 152 minors on the autism spectrum and their families a complete, coherent and continuous growth path, in collaboration with three reference organizations: Anffas Nazionale ETS APS, Fondazione Renato Piatti and Angsa APS ETS. "Towards Independence" is aimed at children and young people with neurodevelopmental disorders, with the objective of accompanying them in the growth of communicative, relational and personal skills, promoting the achievement of the widest possible degree of self-determination. The project includes educational, laboratory and experiential activities, aimed at increasing self-management skills and basic autonomy, together with dedicated support for families, to assist them in daily management and reduce their emotional burden. Once again this year, Mediolanum Foundation will double the first 60,000 euros collected, contributing to expanding the initiative's impact. The Giro d'Italia will be an opportunity to raise public awareness throughout the national territory, bringing the project's message to people and promoting a culture of inclusion and independence.