The long awaited cycling race in stages, the "Giro d'Italia" has just been presented (on 12th November) in Milan. The 89th edition is extremely intriguing and as always, the mountains are the true protagonists. The race will start in Belgium on 6th May 2006.

An individual timed race to Seraing will get the riders off the starting blocks. They will then continue in the Vallonia Region- with 2 stages on route, la Mons- Charleroi and la Perwez- Namur. The third stage is still in Belgian territory, and then the race enters Italy. The final stage, the one that represents the podium for the winner, is of course in Milan, in corso Venezia, on 28th May 2006.

This is a prestigious sporting event, able to attract large audiences and one that, after a brief interruption, returns to the Verbano Cusion Ossola Mountains on two occasions: first for the stage held on 21st May 2006, leaving from Aosta and arriving in Domodossola, Ossola's main city. This will also mark the occasion of the centenary of the Sempione Tunnel the following day the fanfare will leave from Mergozzo towards Brescia.