Waiting for the GIRO d’ITALIA

The 107th Giro d’Italia will start from Piedmont Region on Saturday 4th of May.

Since more than a century, Giro d’Italia has been one of toughest sport competitions with the bravest cyclists challenging each other on hot dusty roads of the south or the icy blizzards of the northern mountains, on the hilly road of the Tuscany or the steep alpine passes of the Dolomites. The event is also a showcase of Italian natural gems and its rich cultural heritage.

This year the Embassy of Itay in Canberra is happy to invite all those in love with cycling and Italy to a conversation with former professional riders and experts at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

The main speakers are:

Gracie Elvin   Gracie Elvin is a former professional cyclist and Radio speaker for SBS, the official broadcaster in Australia for the Giro.

Gracie was part of the Australian owned pro team GreenEdge, she spent many years living, and training Gavirate in the Varese region of Northern Italy, where the Australian Institute of Sport is based. She raced the Giro Donne (the women's Giro d'Italia) three times, in 2012, 2013, and in 2018 where she helped her teammate Annemiek Van Vlueten take the overall victory. She now works at SBS sport as a cycling commentator and will be calling the 2024 Giro d'Italia.

She will tell us about her experience and in particular on the role of team in a sport which is often understood as strongly individualist. Then she will also talk about her current profession, and about the way she feels when she follows today athletes on the roads she biked in the past.

Matteo Bono, former professional cycling athlete, now working in the field of sport equipment.

Matteo, participated to 5 editions of the Giro d’Italia between 2007 and 2014. He will tell us about his personal experience of the Italian roads and share with us the feeling that a professional cyclist has in the weeks before the start

He will also share his opinion on how the sports on the two wheels is changing today.

Michele Napoli CEO of RCS Sports and Events DMCC.

Michele is born in Turin. He graduated in Architecture, earned a master in Executive Sport Business Academy at SDA Bocconi.

He was the site manager at 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin. In 2007 he moved to RCS Sport where he covered different roles, eventually becoming the Head of the Basketball Business Unit in charge of the, organization of the main national basketball events.

Since 2021 he is CEO of RCS Sports and Events DMCC, responsible for business development in the Emirates, management and coordination of sporting (UAE Cycling Tour and The Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon) and non-sporting events in the region.

Michele will share his long experience in sports event management and organization and in particular he will unveil the tremendous effort that lies behind the organization of such a worldwide popular event as the Giro d’Italia.

Paolo Menaspa Chief Science Officer at the Australian Sports Commission.

Paolo has nearly two decades of international experience working across Olympic, Paralympic and professional sports. He has been embedded in National Cycling Teams in the preparation for the Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games. Earlier in his career he developed and managed the MAPEI Sport’s organisational Quality Management System. Paolo has a breadth of experience in service delivery and managing multidisciplinary performance support teams, additionally he has coached professional athletes and teams for over a decade. Paolo has been in his early career also an athlete, and will unveil the secrets of the hard work athletes have to do in preparation of such hard competitions.

Erin Macdonald Tour Guide with Maglia Nera Cycling Tours.

Growing up in country Victoria, Erin was involved in an array of sports from a young age, including basketball, cross-country running, rowing & any other activity she could fit into her day. Introduced to cycling by her father, they shared their passion which leads to Erin dipping her toes into the NRS scene whilst competing in Triathlon at an International level. When in Australia, Erin works as a Bike Fitting specialist & Physiologist, whilst Europe as a soigneur with World Tour teams & a Tour Guide with Maglia Nera Cycling Tours.

Erin will talk about cycling in Italy in a different perspective: that of a cycling tourist following the Giro d’Italia, cheering on the peloton & conquering the same roads as they do. She will delve into the unique scenery, culture, food and wine that Italy has to offer, where the slower the better chimes loudly. And to end, Erin will share an unanticipated story that uncovers the deeper humanity that can be found beyond the two wheels.

At the end of the public event, nibbles and drinks will be served to continue enjoying the conversation in an informal environment.

FREE ENTRY Register by 03.04.24

In partnership with: ITA, Enit, RCS Sport

Kindly sponsored by: Enel Green Power, Mapei