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The 22nd edition of the famed Granfondo to be held next May 6th and featuring \u201cRemembering the Vuelta\u201d headline was presented in Bergamo: impressive number of service people to guarantee maximum safety <\/em><\/p>\n Spain\u2019s National colors characterizd the 22nd Granfondo Internazionale Felice Gimondi Bianchi<\/strong>\u2019 official presentation, today at the Credito Bergamasco\u2019s headquarter, waiting for the d-day, next May 6th, 2018 in Bergamo. \u201cRemembering the Vuelta\u201d <\/strong>is the headline the GM Sport\u2019s organizers chose to celebrate Gimondi\u2019s feats at the 1968 Vuelta a Espana, where the Italian took the leader\u2019s jersey by finishing with a runner-up placement in the stage 14th, from Santander to Vitoria, and held it until the final day in Bilbao. \u201cThis anniversary is important in itself, because it\u2019s been 50 years since. However, besides the occasion, the extent of Gimondi\u2019s feat deserves to be celebrated\u201d<\/em> organizer Giuseppe Manenti<\/strong> explains.<\/p>\n A FEAT TO BE CELEBRATED<\/strong><\/p>\n Dedicating the 22nd Granfondo Gimondi Bianchi to Felice Gimondi\u2019s overall win at Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a, exactly 50 years later, is a due act towards the legend of an inimitable champion and the history of cycling itself. Gimondi\u2019s roll of honor could make this Grand Tour success less impressive that it is, if not for two important reasons.<\/p>\n The first one: by winning the Vuelta, Gimondi entered the elite \u201ctriple crown\u201d club, including the few riders able to win all the Grand Tours in their career, starting from Jacques Anquetil until Vincenzo Nibali (up to now). The second point: the champion from Sedrina managed to complete this \u201cgrand slam\u201d when he was still very young, 25 years and a half, earlier than Merckx himself. Bernard Hinault and Alberto Contador did the same long after, both at the same age of Felice, but it was an all different cycling.<\/p>\n A RACE WITH NO COMPROMISES<\/strong><\/p>\n The organizers dedicated to the 1968 Vuelta the second series of art installations, after those realized on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Gimondi\u2019s Tour de France win. They are obviously different, being built on a yellow and red plate box, with changing angles based on the stage altimetries. Felice Gimondi from Sedrina, 75 years, looked rightfully proud: \u201cThe Granfondo brings my name, and mirrors my essence, it is meant to give an outstanding experience to those participating, cured in every detail. This is what makes the difference, on a bike and in everyday life\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cWonderful\u201d is what everyone says about the GF Gimondi Bianchi: certainly the 32 \u201cpuntuali\u201d, boasting the honor of having ridden and finished all the editions, as well as those who tackled it once, bringing in their eyes the breath-taking landscapes and in their legs the pain of the sour effort. From the 89,4 km <\/strong>short route including the Colle del Gallo <\/strong>and the Selvino<\/strong> climbs to the 128,8 km <\/strong>medium course, up to the 162,1 km <\/strong>long route with the Forcella di Brebenno and Costa Valle Imagna ascents, all the options require so much work.<\/p>\n