Insubria GP presented in the name of Ballerini

The minds and hearts of everyone that took part in the presentation of the Insubria GP, the race that will take place next 27 February were filled with emotional memories of Franco Ballerini. In the town hall of Campione d’Italia, the first applause was for the coach of the Italian cycling team, who died yesterday in a confounded rallying accident, and who was a great friend and supporter of Varese cycling. It is now likely that a finishing line will be named after him, or that there will be some acknowledgement linked to the “Insubria GP”, as hinted by the owner of the “Binda” team, Renzo Oldani, during the morning.

 

The “Binda” team, which is not the only organiser of the event, given that the Sailing Club of Lugano, in the Swiss Canton Ticino, and the Cheula Fan Club, from the Val d’Ossola are as hard at work as the Varese team. This “axis” best represents the whole of the Insubria territory, and seeks to open the way for ever greater collaboration between local organisations.

And the institutions were sitting in the front row at the presentation, which was given on the lakeshore in Ceresio; the audience was greeted by representatives of the councils of Campione d’Italia and Pieve Vergonte (the start and end points of the race), and those of Varese Province and Verbano Cusio Ossola for which an account was given by Guidina Dal Sasso, who is currently the Councillor for Sport in Verbano Cusio Ossola, but who was once a great cross-country skier (she competed for Italy for many seasons), and who is the mother of Paolo Longo Borghini, a cyclist currently with the team ISD Neri, who will be a protagonist on 27 February.

 

Thus, with the new route (last year, the race began in Como and ended in Lugano), the Insubria GP achieves the objective of involving the whole of the Lake District; after the start in Campione d’Italia, the group will tackle a section in the Canton Ticino, a long stretch in Varese Province, complete with flying finish in Gavirate, and then will go into Piedmont, crossing the famous iron bridge in Sesto Calende. At Arona, there will be the assault on the first climb, which goes above Nebbiuno, then the road starts a dive down to Verbania. However, it is most likely that the Insubria GP will be decided on the final circuit, between Vogogna and Pieve Vergonte, five laps of the short ring, with two splits that might be decisive in the final selection.

And there will be no shortage of top riders to excite the fans; as already mentioned, the local idol, Ivan Basso, and the World Champion Cadel Evans, will be taking part in the race, but they will not by the only big names at the start. The reigning Champion, Ginanni (Italian reserve in Mendrisio) is certainly a very interesting man, the Lampre team is going to present its great hope, Diego Ulissi, and there is great excitement to discover who will be taking part wearing the Ag2R, Sky and Caisse d’Epargne jerseys.

It would appear that the race on 27 February will be a perfectly respectable event on a date that does not usually allow great starting orders, or even have great appeal, given that preparation has not yet been perfected. Still, the course seems to be appropriate for the physical conditions of the racers, and the fact that Franco Ballerini himself gave his own backing to the “Binda” team is an additional guarantee. And an incentive to perform even better.