It’s the most poplar (bear with us here) cycling event in the world and this year all eyes are on Le Grand Tour di Firenze Grand Depart.
Firenze is as synonymous for its poplar trees as it is its Duomo and Boy David.
And they are at their full height as the Tour de France cyclists ride through the streets and up the peaks of Tuscany.
It seems something of an oversight that this Renaissance City, and Il Bel Paese, have been overlooked over the 110 years of Le Tour for Le Depart.
Before squillions of Euro won them the prestigious opening stage of Le Tour.
Gino, Il Giro and Le Tour
Italy, of course, has its own famous Tour, Il Giro, and pedallers too.
It is ten years though since an Italian, Vincenzo Nibali, reached L’Arc de Triomphe in jeune or giallo.
Following in the tread marks of the likes of Ottavio Bottechia, Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali and Marco Pantani.
You can learn for yourself all about these Renaissance riders for yourself at the Gino Bartali Cycling Museum in Firenze.
But as a taster our amici at Britain’s Channel 4, who have been bringing us extensive coverage for 40 years, have filled us in.
War hero
Gino, or ‘Ginetaccio’ as he is known in these parts won three Giri and two Tours in the 30s and 40s.
But as well as his exploits on two wheels he had crossbar crossover too for what he did in the War.
Gino, as most elite cyclists are, was very much his own uomo.
And that meant him taking a brave stance in 1938 when not dedicating his Tour de France victory to Il Duce.
He was to show even greater courage in 1943 when he defied the German occupiers in northern Italy.
Bartali took the Cardinal of Firenze, Archbishop Elia Dalla Costa, up on his invitation to join a secret network offering protection and safe passage to Jews and other vulnerable people.
As a courier with the famous cyclist, carrying photographs and counterfeit identity documents to and from a secret printing press.
All hidden in the frame and handlebars of his bike.
Bartali also hid his Jewish friend Giacomo Goldenberg, and Goldenberg’s family.
On the road again
Like all true heroes, Bartali played down his feats of derring-do and in later life, saying “I’m just a cyclist.”
Thankfully Bartali’s successors on Le Tour di Firenze Grand Depart only have to worry now about getting to Rimini in Emilia-Romagna.
And beyond to Cesenatico, Bologna, Piacenza and Torino en route to Paris in three weeks.
We will be following them from the safe distance of home… and seeing if an eighth Italian can win Le Tour.
But if you are lucky enough to be in the vicinity of a Tour leg and can get there early to see the cycling fans set up picnic tables at designated spots, it’s quite a sight.
