A cycle ride on the streets of Gigi Riva : this is the initiative starting on Saturday 21 September from Leggiuno , birthplace of Rombo di Tuono, with destination Cagliari, the Amsicora stadium .
Born from an idea by the journalist Carlo Alberto Melis from Cagliari and organized by the cultural association "Pedalando nella Storia-Maurice Garin", the ride, which brings together a group of cycle tourists, takes place in eight stages for a total of almost a thousand km.
Originally it was intended to celebrate Riva's 80th birthday, born on 7 November 1944. Today, without the claim of being a memorial, it still wants to celebrate the achievements of the great striker, a legend of Italian football and sport (still the top scorer for the Azzurri with 35 goals in 42 games). presences) by cycling to the Amsicora stadium in Cagliari, the scene of the historic championship won by Cagliari, also and above all thanks to Riva's goals, on 12 April 1970.
Sponsored by Coni, the Municipalities of Leggiuno and Cagliari and the Sardinia Region , the ride will end on 28 September , after touching some significant places: Legnano (arrival location of the first of the eight stages), where Riva played his first season as a professional before land on the Island; Florence , with a stop at the Federal Centre of Coverciano and a visit to the Football Museum which bears witness to the Italian exploits of "Rombo di Tuono".
After the transfer to Olbia , via Livorno, the small pedal caravan, led by the president of the organizing association, the Roman doctor Andrea Perugini, will cross the island, passing through the places that Riva loved. There will also be a stop in Barbagia , where the bomber used to go to consume "snacks" away from the spotlight: a habit that will be symbolically recalled with a short stop in Fonni on September 27th.
The cycling trip will end in Cagliari , with the arrival of the sixteen participants at Amsicora and a visit by a representative of them to the champion's tomb.
(Online Union)
