Ciao Bruno. Ciao Nicoletta. One thousand five hundred people said goodbye to Bruno Zanoni, a former professional Laiguegliese (by adoption) who wore the last black jersey in the 1979 edition of the Giro d’Italia Professionisti and organized the first editions of the Granfondo Internazionale Laigueglia and Nicoletta Alverà, beloved wife of Vittorio Mevio.
A woman with a strong, active character. Her smile greeted participants at events organized by Vittorio and especially at the Granfondo Internazionale Laigueglia, which has opened the international Granfondo calendar for several years now.
Valérie Perrin wrote, “There is something stronger in death and it is the presence of the absent in the memory of the living.” A presence, intangible, that made extraordinary this twenty-sixth edition of the event that opened the Gran Trofeo Gs Alpi, Zero Wind Show and Prestige circuits of the Cicloturismo Magazine. Emotion and a few tears, barely held back, lurked behind the dark lenses worn by Vittorio Mevio. The long multicolored snake that glides by silently for six long minutes brings a smile back to the face of Giorgio Manfredi, mayor of Laigueglia, who lowered the checkered flag along with members of the Zanoni family, Emiliano Borgna national manager Acsi Ciclismo and the many fans who witnessed the start.
As the clouds thickened over the nearly three-kilometer-long soft sandy shore on which dozens of bathing establishments alternated, the run-up to the prestigious success was launched.
Decisive stretch by former pro Alberto Nardin (Team Bike Pancalieri) and Milanese Paolo Castelnovo (Team MP Filtri) on the long climb leading to the Colle del Paravenna. It was the climb that Vittorio Mevio has returned to include in the Granfondo Laigueglia route this year that allowed Nardin and Castelnovo to stretch out and gain a 21” second lead over Federico Pozzetto (Mg.K Vis Promotech), who has already inscribed his name twice in the roll of honor of the Ligurian granfondo.
The ascent to Colla Micheri, where the finish of the granfondo was placed, crowns Nardin, who gives the Piedmontese master formation Team Bike Pancalieri its second consecutive success, ahead of a combative Castelnovo who waits for the real mountains to let his climbing skills prevail. Third was Federico Pozzetto.
Among women, victory was taken by Giulia Medri (Mg.K Vis Promotech) in her season debut ahead of Giulia Portaluri (Team De Rosa Santini) and Emilie Bottini (Team Mp Filtri).
A tasty pasta party and the rich final prize-giving concluded this extraordinary day that could characterize the season of recovery for the national granfondo movement as well.
