Cycling is a people’s sport, one that lives and breathes from the passion of its fans. To celebrate the people’s return to the roads of the Euregio Tirolo-Südtirol-Trentino after the restrictions due to COVID in the 2021 edition, the Tour of the Alps has developed an intense program of collateral events in the stage venues.
Starting from the eve in Cles, on Sunday 17 April, the TotA caravan will be welcomed in Primiero / S. Martino di Castrozza, Lana, Niederdorf/Villabassa, Kals am Grossglockner and Lienz by a varied panel of initiatives to involve the people in the stage cities and on the road, creating a festive atmosphere around the competition, albeit in respect of the current situation on the international scale.
On the eve of Cles, where the Teams’ presentation will see all the riders show off in Piazza Granda at 5 PM, a special moment will be dedicated to DEBRA Onlus, represented by testimonial Anna Mei: it will be the first of the awareness initiatives for the Onlus that supports research on Epidermolysis bullosa, the rare disease that affects the so called “butterfly kids”, whose skin is as fragile as butterflies’ wings. In Cles, a special postmark will be dedicated to the Tour of the Alps to celebrate the start of the event from Val di Non.
On Monday 18 April in Primiero/S. Martino di Castrozza, where the first stage winner of 2022 will be crowned, a Krampus show will welcome the #TotA family. Before the finish, two presentations will also take place to introduce the sporting events in this Trentino area, and the local products and activities.
The public along the streets will be entertained with cycling quizzes and activities, while DEBRA Onlus testimonial Anna Mei will lead the primary school kids in a dedicated cycling activity, in which they will wear a blue shirt and butterfly-shaped paperflag, raising awareness for the DEBRA cause. An Alpina Bike Village exhibition will also be brought to Primiero/San Martino di Castrozza, while a road safety education path will be set up for the youngsters at the start on Tuesday April 19th.
Plenty of initiatives expect the race in Lana, finish of stage 2 and start of day 3, on Wednesday April 20th. At the finish, Daniel & Eva Dance will give an exhibition, it will be possible to visit an Alpina Bike Village exhibition, and a special moment will be dedicated to DEBRA Onlus, with the presence of DEBRA Südtirol-Alto Adige President Anna Faccin.
On April 18th and 19th, on the occasion of the Tour of the Alps’ coming to Lana, Eurac Research, in collaboration with the Südtirol City Association and the Municipality of Lana, organized an event on cycling, sustainability and local development. The programme will open on the evening of Monday, April 18th, with a speech on leadership by Kurt Matzler, Professor of strategic management and leadership at the University of Innsbruck, and will continue on Tuesday, April 19th, with the congress titled "Cycling: sustainable, smart, online”.
Lana will say goodbye to the Tour of the Alps caravan with the primary school kids presenting a bike-themed puzzle at the start of stage 3. The finish in Niederdorf/Villabassa will be saluted by the performance of a local band and two presentations dedicated to typical products and to "Niederdorf/Villabassa, the first town of Kneipp wellness".
Additionally, a technical Parkour will be set up for children, raising funds for the DEBRA cause, whilst DEBRA Südtirol-Alto Adige Anna Faccin will intervene at the start of stage 4, on Thursday April 21st. The finish of the fourth stage in Kals am Grossglockner will be greeted by the performance of a local band, the Grossglockner Musikkapelle.
The grand finale in Lienz, Friday 22 April, will begin with an emotional moment in the memory of Michele Scarponi, with the awarding of a special jersey crafted by Alé cycling to the most combative rider of this edition: the jersey will be given by the hands of Michele Scarponi’s parents and brother. A music performance will precede the grand finale of the 2022 Tour of the Alps, and school kids will be invited to join the fest in the heart of Lienz.
Schutzenkompanie Fleimstal, an association for the protection of the territory, will also be present at the finish line in Lienz.
Partner radio Viva FM will also travel with the race in all the stage venues, bringing music and entertainment during the race day, and offering a live daily radio show, from 8 to 10 PM, from Sunday to Thursday, with the voices of the race’s protagonists.
"We are grateful to all the stage venues of the 2022 Tour of the Alps for their commitment in organizing plenty of initiatives that will help creating a special atmosphere around the race – said GS Alto Garda President Giacomo Santini. - The Tour of the Alps aims to be a happy moment for the riders, all the professionals involved, as well as all the territories we cross in the Euregio Tirol-Südtirol/Alto Adige-Trentino, and we can’t wait to savour that special feeling of having the fans around us, something that could not be lived in full in the 2021 edition.”
