The famous men's road cycling multiple-stage race opening stage will be Florence – Rimini, in the beautiful Tuscan-Emilian region: "Florence and Emilia-Romagna are geographically united by mountains. The Apuan Alps, the most imposing part of the chain that surrounds Tuscany and whose marbles were masterfully sculpted by Michelangelo, extend towards the Emilia-Romagna Apennines, a place full of exquisitely preserved villages, full of charm and history, along the road that leads from Dante's birthplace to his tomb in Ravenna. ycling is the other bond that unites them, with three Tour-winning champions, Gino Bartali, Gastone Nencini and Marco Pantani, and so many other, so numerous that it is impossible to name them all. However, the legend holds a special place in the pioneer Alfonsina Strada, originally from Calstelfranco Emilia, the only woman to have participated in the men's Giro d'Italia in 1924. After all, this Grand Départ from Florence and Emilia Romagna will be like starting from home for the Tour de France ".

The Grand Départ of Florence will symbolically pass in front of the Gino Bartali Museum in Ponte a Ema, where the champion winner of 3 Giri d'Italia and 2 Tour de France, becoming a true legend of cycling, was born. The museum is part of the Florentine Civic Museums and sees the exhibition of cycles, bicycles, jerseys, memorabilia, vintage newspapers, publications and films documenting the history of cycling, the exploits of Gino Bartali and other champions.

Over one thousand square meters spread over three floors: in the basement there is a bicycle depot from various eras which gives a glimpse of the technical evolution, on the first floor the actual museum, with an exhibition of bicycles that belonged to the great champions of the cycling, including a perfectly preserved Stucchi, the jerseys of past champions (Gino Bartali, Fausto Coppi, Franco Bitossi, Alfredo Martini), the biographies and cups of Gino Bartali to whom an entire room has been dedicated, and also Bitossi's anecdotes , Boni, Chioccioli, Ciolli, Corrieri, Martini, Poggiali, Tognaccini.