BUONGIORNO FROM AGLIÈ FOR STAGE 14 OF THE 97TH GIRO D’ITALIA
The first high mountain stage of the race finishes at Oropa (1142 m)
Agliè, 24 May 2014 - Buongiorno from Stage 14, Agliè-Oropa (Biella), a short stage at 164
km, with two first-category climbs, including the uphill finish at the UNESCO World
Heritage site at Sacro Monte di Oropa. Ten years after his death, this stage
commemorates Marco Pantani, who won at Oropa in 1999.
The peloton of the Giro d’Italia, now 172 strong, passed km 0 (SP41 , transfer 1.5 km) at
1231 hrs (number 22 Manuel Belletti and number 119 Dennis Vanendert did not start).
JERSEYS
Maglia Rosa – Balocco: Rigoberto Urán (Omega Pharma - Quick-Step)
Maglia Rossa – Algida: Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.FR)
Maglia Bianca – F.lli Orsero: Rafał Majka (TInkoff Saxo)
Maglia Azzurra – Banca Mediolanum: Julián Arredondo (Trek Factory Racing)
WEATHER
Agliè: blue skies, a little cloud, 18.9°C. Wind: weak, NE 7 kph
Cossato (km 62.5): blue skies, a little cloud. 21.6°C. Wind: weak, E 3 / 6 kph
Bielmonte (km 122.4): scattered clouds with possible light rain, 12.9°C. Wind: weak, SSE 8
kph
Oropa (stage finish): scattered clouds with possible light rain, 17°C. Vento: weak, S 4 / 10
kph
STAGE ROUTE
At Parella (km 9), central reservation. At Ivrea (km 18), traffic dividers, speed bumps and
pavé. The Cat. 3 climb at La Serra (km 30.5, 586 m). At Mongrando (km 42), traffic
dividers and roundabouts, and at Ponderano (km 46), pavé. The stage passes for the first
time through Biella at km 50 (traffic dividers, roundabouts and pavé). At Vigliano (km 56),
central reservation. Intermediate sprint at Cossato (km 62.5). At Cossato (km 63), traffic
dividers, roundabouts and speed bumps. Feed zone at Roasio (SP.54, km 76-79). The
riders reaches Crevacuore, where the short but difficult Alpe Noveis climb starts. From km
85 to km 104, Alpe Noveis climb and descent: narrow road, very difficult descent (km 95,
Alpe Noveis, 1st cat., 1099 m). After the descent, the route follows the Zegna Panoramic
road up to Bielmonte (km 122,4, 2nd cat., 1482 m). At Campiglia Cervo (km 138), narrow
road and pavé. At Andorno Micca (km 145), roundabouts and traffic dividers. After
Tollegno (km 148 - roundabouts, traffic dividers and speed bumps), the route crosses.
Biella town centre (km 152 - traffic dividers and pavé), and the climb to the Sanctuary at
Oropa begins (1st Cat., 1142 m). Final climb: 11km long, shallow gradients in the first
part, to Favaro (km 158.8). Steepest section (approx. 13%), in Favaro, on broad stone
paving blocks. The gradient continues at 9% on a series of bends, as far as up to the 130m long home stretch, on 6.5m wide pavé of small pebbles.
AROUND THE RACE
Two occasional intermediate sprints have been added to the stage route; prizes will be
awarded to the first three riders. The first is at via Roma, Valdengo (km 59), and is
promoted by the Municipality, in memory of two citizens of Valdengo: Adriano Pella (a
former professional cyclist) and Lino Lava (founder of the “Circuito del Castello”, a
professional race which was disputed after the Giro d'Italia in the 1960s and 1970s). The
second is at via Germanin, Biella (km 153), beside the HQ of the promoting company,
Botalla Formaggi.
Agliè: a small municipality in the Canavese region (the Roman settlement was named
“Alladium”). The signing-in ceremony takes place in the quadrangle of the majestic 12century Castello Ducale, transformed into a mansion in the 17th century to become the
summer residence of the House of Savoy. It has almost 300 rooms, a grand staircase, and
is surrounded by English and Italian gardens, a wide park and a grandiose fountain. The
economy of Agliè relies mainly on agriculture; in the past, it was home to a famous silk
factory, a weaving factory and also to an Olivetti manufacturing plant that produced the
famous “Lettera 22” typewriter. The Olivetti company was created in 1908 by the engineer
Camillo Olivetti (Ivrea 1868 - Biella 1943) as ‘Italy’s foremost typewriter factory,’ The The
Olivetti brand became associated with Ivrea through Camillo Olivetti’s son Adriano, born at
Ivrea in 1901 (d. Aigle in 1960). Olivetti funds the Open Air Museum of Modern
Architecture (MAAM) at Ivrea (km 17.6), inaugurated in 2001 to protect local heritage, a
veritable laboratory of architecture, and the Laboratory-Museum Tecnologic@mente,
which illustrates the historic ramifications of Ivrea’s world leadership in mechanics and
electronics. Exhibits include interactive, educational laboratories, and examples of
Olivetti’s most ground-breaking products.
Alcoholic beverages: Bairo (km 1.4): a famous “amaro” (herbal liqueur) was produced
here from 1452 to the 1970s,following the recipe by Pietro Bairo (the chief physician of the
House of Savoy). The brand was then licensed to Buton. Andorno Micca (km 144.7):
know for hat factories and “ratafià” liqueur, made with black cherry syrup. The final climb
from Biella brushes by the famous Birra Menabrea brewery, an international awardwinning beer.
Fashion and textiles: Coggiola (km 104.1): in 1911, the Fila Brothers established their
first underwear manufacturing plant, an activity that was then extended worldwide and into
other industries. Trivero (km 109.7): A major centre of the wool and of fashion:
Ermenegildo Zegna (1892-1966) founded his fashion house here, and Pietro Antonio Loro
Piana (1883-1941) founded his textile company here.
Giro stage finishes: Ivrea, km 17.6, 2013: Beñat Intxausti. Oropa: 1963: Vito Taccone,
1993: Massimo Ghirotto, 1999: Marco Pantani, 2007: Marzio Bruseghin (mountain time
trial).
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.rai.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’s broadcasters are 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
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E-mail: [email protected]
Tw.: @rcssport - @stedicia