RCS Sport announces March 3 event, Roma Maxima
RCS Sport announces a new one-day race, the Roma Maxima, to be held March 3
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RCS Sport, owner of the Giro d’Italia, Milano-Sanremo, and Tirreno-Adriatico, announced a new one-day race on Monday, the Roma Maxima, to be held March 3, just one day after another RCS event, Strade Bianche.
Based on the former Giro del Lazio, which was last held in 2008, the Roma Maxima will utilize the cobblestones of the Via Appia Antica, part of the Appian Way, one of the earliest and strategically most important Roman roads of the ancient republic. Riders will start and finish at the Roman Forum, in the shadow of the historic Roman Coliseum. The course features three significant climbs, including the Rocca Massima, Rocaa Priora and Campi di Annibale.
Two Italians, Francisco Moser and Andrea Tafi, share the record of three wins apiece at the Giro del Lazio, while active racers that won the former event include Spaniard Juan Antonio Flecha (2004) and Italian Filippo Pozzato (2005).
For this new incarnation of the Giro del Lazio, the identity of the new event was focused around the imagery of ancient Rome.
“The Giro del Lazio has always been a jewel in the crown of this region and of international cycling,” said RCS Sport operating director Mauro Vegni. “For many reasons it hasn’t been raced since 2008, but we never forgot it. We put a lot of thought into re-branding, as is shown by the new name and logo. Roma Maxima is a project that sees Rome at the center of it, and wants to become a key event in the international racing calendar.
“The day of the race is immediately after the Strade Bianche, a race also organized by RCS Sport. The aim is to make an incredible weekend of cycling in some of the most amazing scenery in the world, unifying ‘Chiantishire’, Siena and all the beauty of Rome in a unique surrounding for the global sport. By giving new life to this race we also feel we have given a positive signal to the Italian cycling world that, we hope, will show faith and a breath of fresh air.”
The 16 teams invited to the 2013 Roma Maxima 2013 include AG2R La Mondiale, Androni-Giocattoli, Astana, BMC Racing, Cannondale, IAM Cycling, Katusha, Lampre-Merida, Movistar, Argos-Shimano, Vacansoleil-DCM, and Vini Fantini-Selle Italia.