After five days in Albania, il Line of Business He returns to Italy and finally the cycling community will be able to embrace the champions again and see them on its roads.In some ways, it is a homecoming, but one that, in our opinion, should not discredit the departure we have just experienced.
During our Albanian days, we saw, experienced, and felt things of every shape and color. The common note is that people didn't seem too informed.. To the masseurs of the UAE Emirates, entering a supermarket, were asked if they belonged to a football team. Another point raised was the scarce presence in the cities of billboards praising the great Italian raceThis is also true. The roads outside the race courses were in bad condition. The traffic is not at all accustomed to training groupsAnd stray dogs have been a constant and not always inviting presence throughout this time. So what has Albania given us besides the millions of euros it has poured into the coffers of RCS Sports & EventsAnd what could the Giro d'Italia have left behind?
Part of the scene
It was evident that in those parts cycling is not the most popular sport, as we suppose. the World Cup in Rwanda They will attract the attention of a few and will be just background noise for others.The criteria used to identify the locations of major departures are certainly economic first and then perhaps also technical. It is therefore a fact that If Albania decided to invest to bring the Giro home, there was a reason for it and it emerged from the words of the Prime Minister, just re-elected.
"Once upon a time, it would have been unthinkable," said Edi Rama in his appearance on Saturday. "Today, it's a reality. The Giro speaks to our friendship with Italy, to the country's openness, and to the growth of our image around the world. From a forgotten land we have become protagonists on the screens of millions of peopleWe want to be part of the scene, not to watch, but to be there. We are small in size, but we don't lack courage and beauty. We are a European state in all respects».
The promotion
Almost none of us present at the grand departure had ever been to Albania, while we are quite certain that some of us have thought at least once about returning. It's all about promotion and a major sporting event is the best sounding board.. While for the country that strongly wants to join Europe, it is important to start frequenting what in Europe is almost taken for granted.
"Albania is much more than beaches," Rama continued. "It's history, mountains, and authentic life even far from the coast. Through the Giro, millions of viewers will discover a country often judged superficiallyAnd I think they'll be surprised. Today we have athletes competing with dignity in disciplines that weren't even mentioned before. Success is no longer an exception, but is becoming part of our normality."
It's a fact that Albania is growing, aiming to join Europe, and still has a long way to go. It has experienced years of closure to the world and it is approaching it while having to offer the necessary open-mindedness to its people at the same timeIf anything, it remains to be seen how the Albanians were supported in the grand launch and whether the contract included specifications with the necessary obligations related to communication and signage.
Prejudices
The Giro d'Italia experienced three days of great intensity in Albania. first victory by Pedersen. Then the time trial of minimal gaps. So the second rose of the Danish. The race expressed excellent standards, for what can be expressed in the first three stagesDespite the crazy traffic, no disturbances were recorded by motorists, because for At every small intersection there was a police officer presentThe motorcycle couriers said they cooperated better with the Albanian police than they do with the Italian ones. A goat entered the group and a dog crossed the road, we saw it. Just as we saw the horse that ran with Demi Vollering at the Strade Bianche of 2023And we're sure that not all Romans in two weeks' time will know that traffic has gone crazy due to the Giro d'Italia, and will stand quietly at the intersections to watch it pass.
In short, we left for Albania with several questions and we came back with diametrically opposed points of viewThe people we've spoken to about it in recent days have said they're amazed by the beauty of the places shown in the live broadcasts. This confirms that prejudice is primarily the product of arrogance, which in turn is based on ignorance. While sometimes showing a little curiosity can be a rewarding exercise.
