Gianni Bugno, far left, with Stephen Roche and Claudio Chiappucci before the World Road Race Championships in Benidorm, Spain, in 1992 won by Bugno (Photo: Sirotti)
One of the best riders ever to grace the pro peloton, Gianni Bugno is coming to Ireland in June to ride the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Northern Ireland.
The event, which starts and finishes in Belfast, is in its second year having been put in place as a legacy promotion following the Giro d’Italia’s starting in the North two years ago.
Cyclists of all ages and ability take part, with some riding it to be first across the line and others mostly out for a bike ride on closed roads through some of the North’s most scenic spots.
There are two options for those looking to ride the event on June 5th; the 173km Mourne route and the 58km Strangford route.
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The registration process is now open with places filling up.
The addition of Bugno is a major coup for the organisers, with the retired Italian a great champion in his day.
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Bugno just about holds off Johan Musseuw to win the Tour of Flanders in 1994 after they had pulled clear on a savage day with Andrei Tchmil and Franco Ballerini.
He won the Giro d’Italia in 1990 and was world road race champion twice, taking gold in 1991 and 1992, finishing 2nd and 3rd overall in the Tour de France in those years.
Now aged 52 years, he won multiple stages in the Tour, Giro and Vuelta, was Italian national road race champion twice and took victory at the Tour of Flanders and Milan-Sanremo.
“Since I saw how successful the 2014 Giro d’Italia big start was and how passionate the people in Northern Ireland were about cycling, it has been a big ambition of mine to come to ride my bike in Northern Ireland and experience the spectacular scenery,” said Bugno.
“Being able to participate in the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia NI is a great honour for me and I look forward to riding with everyone this June.”
Darach McQuaid, Gran Fondo organiser said Stephen Roche would also be attending on the day.
“For the event, it will be a big thrill to welcome Gianni Bugno alongside Stephen Roche and give our participants the chance to ride with such big champions on the roads of Northern Ireland this June,” he said.
“We have many exciting new developments for the event, which we will announce in the coming weeks. Registration is filling up, don’t lose the opportunity to register now.”
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