Bergamo is hopeful for the 2007 Giro d'Italia

By Gregor Brown

The Giro d'Italia announcement is drawing nearer ever day and just yesterday, Cyclingnews reported the possibility of a mountain time trial in the 2007 Giro. According to tuttobiciweb.com there were inspectors representing RCS Sport, the organizers of the Giro, in Bergamo on Wednesday looking at possible stage arrival in the famed Lombardia city.

The last time the Corsa Rosa came close to Bergamo (in the same province) was in 2004, when Stefano Garzelli won in Presolana. For 2007 the organizing committee is proposing two options, one that would finish in Città Alta and another one that would finish in the lower part of Bergamo.

The slated date is May 26, and the Bergamo organizing committee, which includes Felice Gimondi and Ivan Gotti, are proposing crossing though Valtellina, covering the Passo San Marco and then entering the province of Bergamo via Val Brembana. Once in Bergamo, the riders could ascend into Città Alta, using the same roads that for so many years hosted the finish of the Giro di Lombardia, or climb in the direction of Boccola. The second option would take them under Porta San Lorenzo, over Colle Aperto and into the lower part of Bergamo.

If the second option is used, Gimondi is hopeful that the organizers will decide to finish the stage in front of the Teatro Donizetti, where the rider from Bergamo won a stage of the 1976 Giro. Gimondi, and the rest of the cycling world, will know the exact details when the full route of the 90th Giro d'Italia is announced on December 2nd in Milano.