The number 1 favorite is Igor Zanetti, winner of the most important national "Gran Fondos", but Roberto Pagnin, Eros Piras and Emanuele Murtas will certainly try to play their cards, as well as a crowd of accredited Belgian, French, Dutch, Czech riders , Swiss and Slovenian.
Instead, the landlord Matteo Mascia, standard bearer of the organizing company Sc Monteponi and champion in the last edition, will be looking for a difficult reconfirmation. More than 600 riders are ready to take off from the starting line in the 24th edition of the "Giro delle Miniere" , the most important cycling race in stages (Master category) in Sardinia, structured in such a way as to also include trials valid for the national circuit.
Organized and promoted as always by Sc Monteponi di Iglesias , the stage race was presented today in the premises of the regional tourism councilor in the presence of councilor Gianni Chessa, the president of Coni Sardegna Bruno Perra and the directors of the organizing company. Two ex-racers who need no introduction were also at the presentation ceremony: the by now usual testimonials of the Giro delle Miniere Claudio (El Diablo) Chiappucci and Andrea Tafi.
«After the March Rally - observed the regional councilor for Tourism - South Sardinia is once again the protagonist with a cycling event that will project the island into the national scene. Thanks to an excellent race course, the territories of Sulcis Iglesiente, Guspinese and Medio Campidano will be involved, guaranteeing an important tourist promotion also for inland areas». Funded by the Sardinia Foundation and sponsored by the regional tourism and sport department, by CONI and FCI, the stage race is scheduled from 2 to 11 June and in this edition, for the first time ever, a trial valid as "Italian Road Women's Championship".
Involved in the organization work since last September, the patron of the Sc Monteponi Luigi Mascia does not hide his satisfaction: «We have entered at least 180 runners for each race and there is no shortage of important names who will give prestige to the competition. As far as we are concerned, we continue to work and invest in a race that we have been offering for 25 years now and that hasn't stopped even due to the pandemic. We always want to bring the name of Sardinia, Sulcis and Iglesias to the top as well as enhancing the entire cycling movement».
With the arrival of about a thousand people (technicians, escorts and families as well as the runners), it is inevitable to speak of a precious showcase for Southern Sardinia: «It is an aspect - observes Luigi Mascia - that we have been scrupulously taking care of for some editions: even this time we have entered into special agreements with all the accommodation facilities of the municipalities that will host the races and those of Portoscuso and Gonnesa have also been added». The 24th Giro delle Miniere will start on 2 June in Villamassargia with the "Sixth City of Villamassargia Cup - Memorial Salvatore Usai": the 19-kilometre race (with arrival in Siliqua) is valid as the Italian Time Trial Championship for men and women and will of course the tricolor shirts are up for grabs.
On 3 June the "Sixth City of Vallermosa Cup - Memorial Giancarlo Rinaldi" takes place, a 75-kilometre flat race suitable for long distance cyclists and sprinters. On 4 June, in Iglesias, it will be the turn of the queen race, the Gran Fondo delle Miniere, Geomining Park Trophy - Roberto Saurra Memorial. It is a national cross-country race of 130 kilometers (1,500 meters difference in altitude) which also features the dreaded Flumini - Sant'Angelo climb, with a final climb of 1,700 meters at an average gradient of 18%.
On June 5th it will be the turn of the 77 kilometers of the "Seventh City of Pabillonis Cup, Terracotta Trophy - Alessandro Diana Memorial". To close, on June 11th, also the absolutely new National Women's Road Championship, which will be held in Baku Abis (fraction of Carbonia) in the "First Cup of the City of Bacu Abis, Trophy of the Miner". «It is the first race - explains Luigi Mascia - in the Master category, reserved only for women, which is organized throughout Italy. 63 kilometers is demanding and will put the tricolor shirts up for grabs».
