2023-05-18 11:49:58
Former professional rider, Steve Morabito has competed in 7 Giro d’Italia in his career. The Valaisan (40 years old) now chairs the Valais Cycling Federation, as well as the Organizing Committee which allowed the Tour of Italy to come to Switzerland this year. RTSsport.ch went to meet him to talk regarding this legendary race.
The Giro is stopping off in Valais this weekend for the first time since 1963 with an arrival in Crans-Montana on Friday and a departure from Sierre on Saturday. To set up these two stages, the organizers trusted Steve Morabito. Swiss champion in 2018, the Montheysan competed in 16 major tours during his career, which spanned from 2006 to 2019, with the Phonak, Astana, BMC and FDJ teams.
The Giro must be the hardest race in terms of route, weather and time
The Giro d’Italia holds a special place in his mind: “The Giro is a fantastic race where there is a lot of spectacle and respect for the riders. It’s always a pleasure as a cyclist to do it“, Steve Morabito exclaims at the start, even if, for him, “it must be the hardest race in terms of route, weather and time“Climbing mountains in May is not always easy.
Only one Swiss in the running
The Valaisan preserves a quantity of epic memories, precisely because of this difficulty: “Stages like the Gavia pass and the Stelvio pass under the snow, to descend frozen, shower and leave the next day, or the climb of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, which will be done this year, when we had 10 centimeters fresh snow on the helmet on arrival, it’s always very legendary“, he enthuses. The dantesque days of mardi et Wednesday on this 2023 edition have further reinforced this reputation.
In the memories, all Valaisans remember having seen Valais cyclists who ran the Giro
![Steve Morabito. [Gian Ehrenzeller - Keystone]](https://www.rts.ch/2023/05/17/19/08/14032622.image?w=320&h=320)
Riding at home always conveys its share of emotions for a Swiss cyclist. After the withdrawal of Stefan Küng, there is however only one left in the race this year: the Zurich resident Fabian Lienhard (Groupama-FDJ), who is in 129th place in the general classification. “It’s a pity that there is no Sébastien Reichenbach and Simon Pellaud this year, because I think they would have really appreciated to do it“, regrets the Montheysan. Gino Mäder would also have had a card to play in this edition, but the Saint-Gallois, ill, was forced to give up a few days before departure.
A land of cycling
The performances of its athletes regularly demonstrate this, and this for a long time now, Valais has been a land of cycling. “About ten years ago, Johann Tschopp won a Cima Coppi (red: the highest peak of an edition of the Giro d’Italia). There was also Alex Moos in the past. In the memories, all Valaisans remember having seen Valais cyclists who ran the Giro“, says the 40-year-old Montheysan. Steve Morabito himself has contributed 7 times to perpetuating this tradition, with the best result of 25th place in the final in 2014.
If we already know that there will be no exploits by a rider from the Old Country during this 106th edition, the Crans-Montana stage promises to be epic, as the t have already been the overwhelming majority of the stages since the start of the Costa dei Trabocchi on May 6th. With, who knows, maybe a 1st explanation between the top names in the peloton?
Bastien Trottet – @Bastien Trottet
Important for Swiss cycling
The passage of the Giro in Switzerland also has other interests than simple competition. For Steve Morabito, “it gives perspectives and sparkles in the eyes of young people to see what the life of a pro cyclist is like. These major events also help to promote the sport and to tickle the next generation with all these young talents who need to be inspired.“.
The former runner is also aware of the potential and the limits of Switzerland: “We are lucky to have road races and mountain bike races at World Cup level, and, for a small country, proportionally many good international athletes“, he rejoices.
Practical information
Friday’s stage will be broadcast in full by the various RTS channels, first on RTSsport.ch from 10.50 a.m. then, from 1.45 p.m., on RTS 2. It will arrive in Switzerland via the Grand-Saint Bernard Tunnel (and not the pass, as initially planned), before taking the Col de la Croix-de-Coeur (if conditions permit) and descending via the Tzoumaz. The riders will then head towards Granges and Lens for a finish in Crans-Montana between 4:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.
The next day, the cyclists will leave Sierre around noon towards Brig and the Col du Simplon, where they will find Italian soil. This stage will be visible on RTSsport.ch from 11.55am. As for those who would like to go on the course, the organization offers a number of practical details on its site internet.
Tour 2023, the programme
TH 18.05 – 12th stage
Bra – Rivoli (179 km)
FRI 19.05 – 13th stage
Borgofranco d’Ivrea – Crans Montana (207 km/finish at the summit)
SA 20.05 – 14th stage
Sierras – Cassano Magnago (193 km)
Sun 21.05 – 15th stage
Seregno – Bergamo (195 km)
MON 22.05 – rest day
TU 23.05 – 16th stage
Sabbio Chiese – Monte Bondone (203 km/summit finish)
WED 24.05 – 17th stage
Pergine Valsugana – Caorle (195 km)
TH 25.05 – 18th stage
Oderzo – Val di Zoldo (161 km/arrivée au sommet)
FRI 26.05 – 19th stage
Longarone – Three Peaks of Lavaredo (183 km/arrivée au sommet)
SA 27.05 – 20th stage
Time trial uphill Tarvisio – Monte Lussari (18.6 km)
Sun 28.05 – 21st stage
Rome – Rome (135 km).
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