The love story between Abruzzo and great cycling dates back quite a few decades and was further strengthened last year with the Grande Partenza of the Giro d’Italia, which was held along the stunning Costa dei Trabocchi. This year’s Giro d’Abruzzo will no doubt provide this region with another occasion to showcase its beauty. Not exactly a brand-new race, the first edition of the Giro d’Abruzzo dates back to 1961 and the last to 2007 (for a total of 34 editions). Thanks to the organisation of RCS Sport, the race will boast a degree of talent the likes of which have not been seen before in this competition, featuring some of the best professional riders in the world.
The opening stage of this four-day event is the Vasto-Pescara, 161 kilometres made to measure for fast wheels despite the slightly bumpy first half. The town of Vasto overlooks the Golfo d’Oro (Golden Gulf), a wide moon-shaped bay with golden sand located along the aforementioned Costa dei Trabocchi. Its Roman-style centre with stone churches and characteristic alleyways shouldn’t be missed in case of a visit. The town has been the starting venue of several Giro d’Italia stages: in 2008, with arrival in Pescocostanzo, in 2019, with arrival in L’Aquila, and also in 2023, with arrival in Melfi, just to mention the last three.
The first part of the stage is rather hilly and winds through the hinterland of the province of Chieti, after a short stretch on the coast. The peloton will then tackle the short climbs of Fossacesia, Castel Frentano and Guardiagrele before reaching Chieti and steadily descending towards the finish line in Pescara for the much-expected bunch sprint.
Pescara is a modern city, a cradle of shops, theatres, restaurants as well as major cultural events and initiatives. Cycling is an undeniable part of this rich history, and the Giro d’Italia, which first came here back in 1912, is definitely no exception. Furthermore, the Trofeo Matteotti has been held in this town since 1945, featuring over the yers riders such as Gino Bartali, Ercole Baldini, Felice Gimondi, Roger De Vlaeminck, Francesco Moser, Gianni Bugno and Paolo Bettini among others.
