Felice Gimondi is one of the top stars who took part in this competition, born in 1962 thanks to Polisportiva Libertas Udine (then presided by dr. Antonio Comelli), with the aim to substitute the disappeared Tour of Friuli, which took place in May 1961 for the last time. The palmarés of this race, which eventually became the oldest italian stage-race for non-professionals, was inaugurated by Giovanni De Franceschi, who took first place in the three days (with four stage) of 1962 edition. In the following years other great cyclists would add their names to the winners’ list: Marino Basso (1965), Claudio Corti (1977), Claudio Chiappucci (1984), Gilberto Simoni (1991 and 1993) and Danilo Di Luca (1998).
After Polisportiva Libertas, the competicion had Gruppo Sportivo Gino Bartali as organizer, until 1990, when the direction of the race passed in the hands of the recently born “Gruppo Sportivo Giro Ciclistico del Friuli Venezia Giulia”, with Danilo Grattoni as chief. In 2005 the race was cancelled due to economic reason (formerly the race hadn’t taken place also in 1976, because of an earthquake), but in 2006 it’s reborn thanks to “Gruppo Sportivo Giro Ciclistico del Friuli Venezia Giulia” itself, now under the direction of Giovanni Cappanera; that edition, which was the 44th, was won by the russian Boris Shpilevskiy, of Gs Lupi team.
A.S.D. G.S. Giro Ciclistico del Friuli Venezia Giulia
PRESIDENTE
Cappanera Giovanni
VICEPRESIDENTE
Gori Renato
CONSIGLIERI
Castellano Dino
Gobbo Ilario
Riccato Gianfranco