After 25 years, the Giro della Campania returns. The race, founded in 1911, is scheduled for September 20 with a multi-year project, thanks to the involvement of the Professional Cycling League and its president Roberto Pella, in agreement with the Campania Region presided over by Roberto Fico, with the involvement of the Sports Assessor Fiorella Zabatta and the Metropolitan City of president Gaetano Manfredi.

The race will start from the Royal Palace of Caserta and finish in Naples, almost certainly in Piazza del Plebiscito, on a rolling course.

«The race will traverse different places, communities and stories, enhancing the richness of our region and strengthening that sense of belonging that sport creates. Sport is participation, encounter, sharing and the ability to unite people, from inland areas to the coast», states president Fico.

«An event that takes the place of the Giro della Romagna and follows the GP del Lazio — clarifies president Pella — we thank Extragiro by Marco Selleri for supporting this choice. Furthermore, I thank the Campania Region and president Fico, and the Metropolitan City of Gaetano Manfredi, as well as Assessor Zabatta, with whom we found immediate and close synergy in defining the route and modalities, with the objective of guaranteeing the race for the next three years. An advantage for our professional riders».

THE CHAMPIONS: «The Giro della Campania is a race I won 2 times (1983 and 1984), in Pompei and Sorrento — explains Francesco Moser — at my first participation, instead, the finish was at the Arenaccia on a cement track and Marino Basso won. Back then there was a route passing through Torre del Greco that Fausto Coppi also rode».

The words of Beppe Saronni, who also won 2 editions in 1978 and 1980: «When a race returns, it is always a reason for satisfaction. For a race I won, there are also many memories that come back to mind and still many fans who support me in the South. Beyond the victories, in my mind there is the quantity of people who waited for us on the hairpin turns of Avellino with their typical warmth».

INSTITUTIONS: As anticipated, alongside the Region are the Metropolitan City, the Professional Cycling League (also represented by councilor Stefano Feltrin), the Italian Cycling Federation (regional president Umberto Perna) and the Italian Army (division general Andrea Di Stasio, commander of the Southern Territorial Command).

«It is a great event», explains Assessor Zabatta. «The idea for the revival was born after the Capaccio Paestum–Naples stage. Cycling reaches people, arriving in front of their homes: it is a great celebration. We aim to include the Giro in the annual schedule, involving all of Campania, from the most famous places to inland areas».

«This event had to be revived because it is a piece of Campania's history», continues Zabatta. «Just look at the list of champions who participated in it — legends like Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali, Moser and Saronni — and the many guests we would like to welcome on the occasion of this restart».
«The objective is to create events in the days before the race that involve all the provinces», adds Zabatta. The provinces will be covered by television cameras and all of Italy will be able to admire the beauties of the Campania territory.

Umberto Perna, president of the Italian Cycling Federation Campania: «We at the Italian Cycling Federation Campania are honored to have contributed to the rebirth of this high-profile project for our region. Cycling is recognized for its historical value. I thank Assessor Fiorella Zabatta for her foresight and for involving us from the beginning in designing a route that interests all five provinces. Thanks to the president of the Professional League, Hon. Pella, for offering us a race date and technical-organizational support».