For many years now Gioia Bartali is committed to keeping the memory of her grandfather Gino alive. He attends evenings, meetings with schools, events of all kinds in which he carries out the values that made Ginettaccio become “Righteous of the Nations”, as well as one of the most successful and beloved cyclists in history. These are special days for her, with the imminent departure of the Tour de France from Florence, in memory of Gino Bartali.
Joy, these are going to be a very busy few days for you, the Bartali family. How's the buildup to the Tour de France Grand Departure, dedicated to your grandfather, going?
The other day I attended the presentation in Florence, invited by Giancarlo Brocci, the creator of the Eroica di Montalcino and therefore a true Bartalian, if you like. On Monday morning there was a first ceremony in Assisi, from where some boys from Israel left to commemorate their grandfather. They cycled the road from Assisi to Florence, the same one he faced under Nazism to help the Jews persecuted during the war. They all belong to the organization “Bartali – Youth in Movement”, real schools where kids combine school and cycling.
Can you tell us something more about this organization?
It is a project born after the Giro d'Italia started from Jerusalem in 2018It was conceived and still carried forward today by the then director of the Israel Cycling Academy Ran Margaliot. Also Last year I went to visit one of the centers where these kids live and study.Then we went back to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. In short, even in Israel there is a good memory path for the grandfatherHe is a figure who is still highly respected and remembered there.
And then how did your week go?
From Assisi I moved to Florence, to be precise. in the municipality of Bagno a Ripoli, where on Tuesday there was an event dedicated to Bartali and gimondiNorma Gimondi was also there and it was certainly another beautiful moment linked to sport and the memory of these two great names. Following this, yesterday in the garden of the Synagogue of Florence there was a moment of commemoration organized by Israel-Premier Tech in honor of the grandfather, which was attended by the riders who will participate in the Tour along with all the staff.
And today?
I will attend the official presentation of the teams, invited by the Emilia-Romagna Region. I had already been their guest some time ago at Bologna Central Station for the inauguration of the train that Trenitalia wanted to dedicate to the figures of Pantani, Bartali and Coppi, that too was a beautiful eventAfterwards we'll head to the start on Saturday and enjoy the ride through Ponte ad Ema, my grandfather's hometown, where there's a museum dedicated to him.
The Grande Partenza will also be an opportunity to remember other great names from the past. Besides his grandfather, Gastone Nencini and Ottavio Bottecchia, Fausto Coppi and Marco Pantani…
Certainly, equally important figures. I personally am also very close to the Nencini family. And I'm very happy that the riders will be passing through Mugello to remember him. Tuscany has truly given so much to this sport, in my opinion, champions of absolute excellence. They brought forward the true meaning of cycling, of truly heroic cycling., from the times when cycling was a real undertaking, something that went beyond sport. What makes me proud of my grandfather is that he passed on great valuesI'm also very active in schools. They often invite me because Gino Bartali continues to be a much-loved character Even outside of cycling. For what he did during the war, for the example he represents for young people...
In this regard, what does it mean for you as a family to be protagonists in such a special moment, which will pay homage to your grandfather throughout the world?
It's a very special event for all of us in the family. My dad would have liked it to be possible already for the hundredth anniversary of his grandfather's birth, but the time wasn't yet ripe. That's why I'm particularly happy to be able to be there, to also remember my father Andrea, who over the years has dedicated himself so much to carrying on Gino's memory. To say we, the family, are proud is an understatement. It is a great honor that an event like the Tour de France dedicates its start to our grandfather.. Something really, really memorable.
