by InTrieste
What began as a stage of the Giro d’Italia ended as something much greater — a celebration of unity, resilience, and shared history on the border between Italy and Slovenia.
Danish rider Kasper Asgreen claimed a solo victory on Stage 14 after a crash shattered the peloton on slippery cobblestones. But while Asgreen’s triumph was dramatic, it was the finish line — drawn between Gorizia and Nova Gorica — that left the most lasting impression.
This stretch of land, once a front line of division during the Cold War, transformed into a festival of togetherness. Crowds filled both sides of the border, waving Italian, Slovenian, and European flags, blurring the once-stark separation with music, cheers, and a shared love of sport.
“It’s not just a race,” said one local spectator from Nova Gorica. “It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come. This used to be a border we couldn’t cross. Now we celebrate on both sides.”
The 194-kilometer route began in Treviso and wound its way through Friuli Venezia Giulia before crossing into Slovenia. While the race took a turn when a late crash disrupted several favorites, including Primož Roglič and Egan Bernal, the crowd remained focused on the symbolic nature of the finish — a line that once divided, now connecting.
Tour leader Isaac del Toro, who finished safely in the front group, kept hold of the pink jersey and extended his lead. But even he seemed aware that on this day, the story wasn’t only about time gaps or sprint finishes.
For Gorizia and Nova Gorica — once divided by fences and ideology — the stage was a moment of joy, a public reaffirmation of cross-border friendship, and a powerful statement of what Europe can be.
As Asgreen raised his arms, the cheers echoed across the square where two cities, two languages, and two histories met as one.
