by InTrieste
Interview: FVG governor, Massimiliano Fedriga
As Italy gears up for its National Cycling Championships later this month, the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia is pedaling into the international spotlight.
At a press conference this Thursday in Trieste, Governor Massimiliano Fedriga emphasized the strategic role sports—and especially cycling—play in promoting the region, which borders Austria and Slovenia. The championships are the latest chapter in Friuli Venezia Giulia’s growing portfolio of high-profile athletic events, which include competitions in football and golf under the broader Coppa Italia delle Regioni (National Cup of Regions) initiative.
“Cycling is a sport grounded in great values and one of the most effective ambassadors for our territory,” Mr. Fedriga told InTrieste. “That’s why the Region supports it and is proud to host the upcoming Italian Championships, continuing a journey that began with the Coppa Italia delle Regioni, which has already made its mark nationwide.”
The championship races will unfold across several towns in the region, starting with individual time trials on June 25 and 26 from Morsano al Tagliamento to San Vito al Tagliamento. The marquee road race for professionals, scheduled for June 29, will start in Trieste and finish in Gorizia’s Piazza della Vittoria, a symbolic route that highlights both the region’s terrain and its cross-cultural identity.
The president of Italy’s professional cycling league, Roberto Pella, noted that the races will be broadcast on Rai 2 and viewed in over 100 countries—an unprecedented level of exposure for a region often overshadowed by its more famous Italian counterparts.
Local athletes are expected to take center stage. All eyes will be on Olympic and world champion Jonathan Milan and veteran rider Alessandro De Marchi, who is competing in his final season.
The event also drew a strong show of civic support, with the mayors of Trieste, Morsano, and San Vito al Tagliamento—Roberto Dipiazza, Elena Maiolla, and Alberto Bernava, respectively—joining the presentation. Their presence underscored the championship’s significance not just as a sporting spectacle, but as a celebration of community, endurance, and regional pride.
Fedriga concluded with optimism: “I’m convinced our collaboration with the professional cycling league will continue to grow, as Friuli Venezia Giulia reaffirms itself as a stage for world-class sporting events.”
With the starting gun just days away, the region is ready to welcome riders, fans, and international attention—proving that cycling here is more than a race; it’s a showcase.
