Let's call it the Egan Bernal kilometer. The final stage of the Tour de l'Avenir, Wednesday 26th, from Strambino to Ceresole Reale (Lago Serrù), will also pass through Buasca, a hamlet of San Colombano, a locality that hosted a very young Egan Bernal. It was here that the Colombian champion prepared the feat that earned him the overall victory in the 2017 edition, just two years before his historic (for his country) triumph at the Grande Boucle.

The achievement matured not far from Ceresole, even though the Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne-Tignes stage was neutralized at the Iseran (on the opposite side of Gran Paradiso), due to a landslide. Bernal wore the colors of Androni Sidermec Bottecchia and had come to this rather remote corner of Canavese, thanks to the good offices of his discoverer Gianni Savio and sports director Giovanni Ellena.

"The passage of the Tour de l'Avenir brings back beautiful memories: already in 2016 Egan finished fourth, he arrived in Buasca in June still 19 years old. He immediately appeared to be a very mature young man. Then his breakthrough the following year earned him a contract with Sky and a well-deserved consecration," recounts Vladimir Chiuminatto, who lives in San Colombano, a very active figure in promoting youth cycling (sports director of the historic Sc Madonna di Campagna), precious organizer of the Angelo Conterno memorial, scheduled for next September 5th.

But let's return to Bernal: "his qualities were evident from the start, it was a pleasure to watch him train on these roads that will also be tackled on Wednesday, the climb of Prascorsano with the summit at km 70, 3.3 km at 6.7 percent. Obviously a climber like him would have greatly appreciated the ascent to Lago Serrù, which he knows intimately: Ellena took him up there for his first training session".

Chiuminatto, somewhat of a big brother to Bernal, shares some curiosities: "Personally, overcome with joy, I remember being in Tignes at the awards ceremony, while he wore the yellow jersey. I had already seen him win the Avenir in 2017 at Les Saises. Egan integrated beautifully at the Hotel Restaurant in Buasca, together with the colony of South Americans including Rivera, Sosa, Restrepo: he had just turned twenty when he won the race that launched him into the spotlight. But he had already arrived in our little village the year before. I have always admired the Colombian champion's leadership and I am proud of our friendship".

Bernal, as far as recent years are concerned, opened a series of victories at the Tour of the young by riders who later proved capable of conquering the Grande Boucle (Pogacar) or reaching the podium (Del Toro).

Descending towards Courgné, the cyclists will head into the Orco Valley, towards the heart of Gran Paradiso, a provincial road heavily frequented by cyclists, leading to the Nivolet, reaching the Serrù finish line tackled by the 2019 Giro. And here, in Locana, a tribute to another Tour winner, the first one, namely Maurice Garin, whose mother (Maria Teresa Ozello) was originally from the small Canavese town.