Gran Fondo Giro d'Italia: Miami/Coral Gables Edition

L-R: Bruce Hildenbrand, Consul Giuseppe Perrone, Michele Acquarone, Pat Hus

Las Vegas – The Giro d’Italia chose Interbike, the premier cycling trade event in North America, as the stage to announce the upcoming, tropical edition of the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia in Miami.

An emotional short movie about the history of the “toughest race in the world’s most beautiful place” set the mood for the press conference. Pat Hus, Managing Director of Interbike, in his welcoming remarks stated: “There is a long-lasting relationship between our show and Italy, a country that represents so much of what cycling is all about. It is only natural for Interbike to further this synergy with Giro d’Italia and Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia: a logical association for us.”

Gran Fondos are the new obsession of American riders, with thousands of participants pouring from all over the States to elite cycling destinations. It’s undisputable that an authentic Italian touch to these signature events makes them worth the experience. “We hosted a Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia in Pasadena last July and it was an excellent showcase of our Made in Italy products“ said Giuseppe Perrone, Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles. “For Italians, the Giro is not just a sport, but an iconic event, engraved in our history and surely part of our soul,” Perrone added, echoed from Miami by the Consul General Adolfo Barattolo in a note: “We look forward to welcoming the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia in Miami/Coral Gables, where Italy is regarded as a synonymous of design, elegance and technology.”

The press conference special guest, Michele Acquarone, director of the Giro d’Italia (RCS Sports), talked about the love story between cycling enthusiasts, Giro d’Italia and its champions. “As organizers, we want to reinforce the relationship between cycling fans and the mystique of the Giro. To grow the importance of Giro d’Italia in the world, we decided to bet on the United States, where the romance of this sport and Italy is strong. We had a pilot edition in Pasadena, and now we look forward to the upcoming Miami edition.” At the end, Acquarone revealed the exciting new Col du Galibier mountain stage summit of the 2013 Giro d’Italia.

The Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Miami/Coral Gables, will be held on Sunday, November 11, 2012: a perfect wrap up of the cycling season with a blast of pink! For additional information visit: www.granfondogiroditalia.com

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