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BUONGIORNO FROM FROSINONE FOR STAGE 7 OF THE 97TH GIRO D’ITALIA
Frosinone, 16 May 2014: Today’s stage, Frosinone-Foligno (211 km), crosses just two
categorised climbs and is suited to the sprinters.
The peloton of the Giro d’Italia, now 188 strong, passed km 0 at 11.51 hrs (154 Brett
Lancaster and 181 Joaquín Rodríguez finished yesterday’s stage but did not start this
morning).
JERSEYS
Maglia Rosa – Balocco: Michael Matthews (Orica GreenEdge)
Maglia Rossa – Algida: Elia Viviani (Cannondale)
Maglia Bianca – F.lli Orsero: Michael Matthews (Orica GreenEdge)
Maglia Azzurra – Banca Mediolanum: Michael Matthews (Orica GreenEdge)
WEATHER FORECAST
Frosinone: scattered clouds, 16.3°C. Wind: moderate, NW 10/21 kph.
Subiaco: scattered clouds with some rain, 15.1°C. Wind: moderate, NW 21/25 kph.
Rieti: scattered clouds with some rain, 14°C. Wind: moderate, N 16/21 kph.
Foligno: light rain, 15.9°C. Wind: moderate, N 14/21 kph.
RACE ROUTE
Rolling itinerary without demanding climbs. The ascent of Valico di Arcinazzo begins on
the start line. The stage crosses the Apennines to Rieti along roads that twist and turn, but
with no categorisable climbs. The feed zone is just past Lake Turano, at Posticciols (km
101.4). Intermediate sprint at Rieti (km 123.9). Two uncategorised climbs follow: the Forca
di Arrone and Montefranco. The Valico di Somma (km 171.5, cat. 4) is the final difficulty
before the descent into Spoleto. Fast roads lead to the stage finish. Final kms.
Uncomplicated run into Spoleto, as far as 2 km from finish. Then, a right hand bend,
followed immediately by two left-hand bends that lead to ta long straight section that starts
(1.3 km from the finish line). A long right-hand curve starts 500m from the finish line,
through 90 degrees leads to the final straight, 160m long on a road 7m wide and surfaced
with asphalt.
AROUND THE RACE
Frosinone: Romanesque cathedral (rebuilt in 18th century). Hosted its first Giro finish in
1975 (Enrico Paolini in the World Champion’s rainbow fersey). 1985: Urs Freuler. 2005:
Paolo Bettini crossed the finish line first but DQed for baulking Bedan Cooke. Stage
awarded to Luca Mazzanti. 2012: Francisco Ventoso.
Alatri (km 10.3): pre-Roman acropolis, megalithic polygonal walls.
Subaico ( km 51.2): birthplace of Gina Lollobrigida (1927). actress and sex symbol of the
1950s and 1960s. After her film career, she had a second career as a photojournalist and
sculptor. In the 1970s, she scooped the press by gaining an exclusive interview with Fidel
Castro. In January 1949 she married the Solvenian doctor Milko Skofic on Monte
Terminillo (Rieti).
Rieti (km 124.9): Medieval walls,views of the majestic Mount Terminillo.
Spoleto (km 183.2): Ponte delle Torri (230 m long), a Roman-Lombard aqueduct. The city
hosted multiple Giro d’Italia stages: 2004: Mc Ewen. 2007 Luis Felipe Laverde). Laverde is
from the tiny Colombian village of Urrao, like Oscar Vargas, 3rd in the 1989 Vuelta a
España, and Rigoberto Urán, currently 3rd in the GC.
Corciano (km 197.1): one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Brithplace in 1938 Carlo
Brugnami, professional cyclist, who competed in 6 Giros Italia 1960-1965.
Foligno (km 211): Typography and printing are two ancient traditions of the town. Dante
Alighieri’s Divine Comedy was the first book printed in the Italian language right here in
Foligno, in 1472. The neoclassical architect Giuseppe Piermarini, who designed many
important buildings, such as Teatro alla Scala in Milan, was born in Foligno (1734-1808).
the city has suffered from several major earthquakes, most recently on 26 September
1997: the earthquake severely damaged the city. “Giostra della Quintana”, which has
been taking place in June and in September since 1448, is one of the many traditional
events of the city. The “Quintana” was the dummy soldier with a ring hanging from its arm,
which the knights were supposed to catch. The name comes from the “fifth road” of a
Roman military camp, where this tradition began. Giro d’Italia stage - 1968: Franco Bitossi.
TELEVISION
The 2014 Giro d’Italia is broadcast in 171 countries across 5 continents. RAI, the Giro’s
longstanding partner and host broadcaster, shows the stage in Italy on RaiSport 2 from
1400 hours (CET) and on RaiTre, in simulcast, from 1510. The stage is streamed on
www.raisport.it, while www.gazzetta.it carries highlights, analysis and news updates. The
Giro d’Italia is broadcast throughout Europe on Eurosport every day at 1430. Elsewhere,
the Giro d’Italia is broadcast by Sky Sports (UK), VRT/Sporza, TV2 Sporten, FORTA (TV3
Catalonia, TVG Galicia, TPA Asturias, EITB Basque Country), beIN Sports, NOS, SRG
SSR, Sportsnet, RDS, TDN, ESPN Sur, ESPN Brasil, Al Jazeera, SuperSport, Eurosport
Asia-Pacific, J Sports, Hy Sport, Sony SIX, TrueVisions, SBS, FOX Sports, and Sky Sport
(NZ). SNTV distributes news footage.
Info:
SHIFT Active Media
Matteo Cavazzuti
RCS Sport
Stefano Diciatteo
RCS Sport cycling press office
Ph. (+44) 01225 448333
Ph.: (+39) 348 5838779
E-mail: [email protected]
Tw.: @Shiftactive - @MatCavazzuti
RCS Sport press office coordinator
Ph.: (+39) 02 25848758
Mob.: (+39) 335 5468466
E-mail: [email protected]
Tw.: @rcssport - @stedicia