Journey to discover the vehicles that accompany the Corsa rosa. The eight standard bearers of the Varese team travel aboard an Irizar i6S bus equipped with the best comforts. Here are its technical characteristics and equipment
There are those who, among cycling enthusiasts, prefer to watch the start of a stage, perhaps positioning themselves close to the signature sheet stage, those who prefer the intermediate passages, especially when climbing to high altitude, and those who always try to reach the finish line area to witness the final act of a stage live from a privileged position. Historically, however, the first point of contact between the pedal axes, protagonists of the 109th edition of the Tour of Italyand the fans (but also the simple, and always numerous, curious) takes place upstream, near the area of the start. In fact, it is precisely at the moment in which the athletes (from sprinters to climbers, up to chronomen and team members) get off the buses of their respective teams that the wait ends and, in a climate in which celebration coexists with sporting tension, spectators have the opportunity to get closer to their favorites. A collective ritual of great charm which is repeated daily and which, on the occasion of the 13th stage, the 189 kilometer Alessandria-Verbania (of 3,468 km divided into 21 stages), we lived in the company of Polti VisitMalta teamalso to try to understand some secrets of their bus and the strategy (as a team and from a logistical point of view) for the Corsa rosa.
the irizar i6s bus and the Škoda flagships
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With the exception of the vehicles of one of the twenty-three teams at the start of the Corsa rosa (the vehicles of the Picnic Postnl Raisin team arrived on site well in advance), all the other coaches reached the car park Garibaldi square starting from 10.45am, just in time for the opening of the signature sheet (from 11.10am) and for the official departure (scheduled for 12.40pm, with the passage from kilometer zero scheduled for 12.55pm) from Piazza della Libertà. The (large) spaces were assigned based on the order of arrival of each bus, proceeding progressively counterclockwise within a rectangular area not accessible to the public. Also among those present in the (first) beating heart of the city Davide Cassaniformer cyclist and technical commissioner of the Italian national road cycling team, now a Rai commentator, and the singer Omar Pedrini. The team Polti VisitMalta occupied the fifth available slot with the five flagships (Skoda Superb in station wagon version), a van Peugeot Traveller intended for the transport of people and the imposing Irizar i6S equipped with a 6-cylinder in-line engine powered by diesel. It is a highly efficient model (in this version the Spanish brand estimates a reduction in consumption and emissions of up to 15% thanks to a reduction in weight and an improvement in the aerodynamic coefficient) with generous dimensions (10.8 meters longwhile in the three-axle variant 14.9 meters are reached, 3.7 meters tall and 2,550 mm wide) designed for long journeys.
the amenities and activities on the coach
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After the wake-up call, the morning breakfast and the bus transfer to the center of Alessandria, shortly after 11.00 for the eight athletes of the team Polti VisitMalta It’s time for the technical meeting. “For us the pre-stage begins the previous evening – he explained Francesco Gavazzia former long-time professional cyclist who currently holds the role of sports director (the others are Giovanni Ellena, Jesus Hernandez and Stefano Zanatta) of the team -. Once the stage is over we return to the hotel and in the evening, before dinner, we already start talking and planning for the next day. We talk to the athletes, try to understand how they are doing, what they also think of the stage, then with the meeting on the bus the next day we close the circle of ideas already put on the table. Let’s brush up on some concepts and analyze where we need to be careful (during the day, ed) and when you need to be ready. Then we also try to interact with the runners to understand if everyone has the same idea and, given that now there is starting to be a bit of fatigue, it is a good opportunity to motivate them a little: many times the head counts even more than the legs”. On the bus every morning they find space, in the stations set up in the special meeting area, (in alphabetical order) Mattia Bais, Ludovico Crescioliwinner of the Giro dell’Appennino, Giovanni Lonardi, Mirco Masterssecond on the finish line in Corso Venezia (in the 15th stage Voghera-Milan), Andrea Mifsudthe first Maltese athlete at the start of a grand tour, the debutant Thomas Pesenti, Diego Sevillafirst blue jersey (reserved for the leader of the Mountain Grand Prix) of this Giro d’Italia, and Alessandro Tonelli. Between screens and slides, it is in this portion of the long corridor (which recalls, in some ways, a hotel room and in others a changing room in a football stadium or an arena) that the tactics for the stage are born. But on board there are also showers and toilets, a massage area and a real restaurant area with kitchen and fridge. And then the drawers in which they are crammed, with the same care and precision with which the day’s escapes are planned, the water bottles and other personal equipment for athletes.
bass, the former champion who is now Polti’s manager
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In the 90s the Polti team he achieved two overall victories in the Giro d’Italia with Gianni Bugno (1990) e Ivan Gotti (1999). Then, following its withdrawal from competitions, from 2024 the Lombard company returned to covering the role of title sponsor of a professional cycling team thanks to this collaboration with the Italian-Spanish project started by the brothers Contador (Alberto and Fran) with, among others, Ivan Basso. “We now have extremely proven logistics – declared the Varese native, twice (in 2006 and 2010) winner of the Corsa rosa, as well as sport manager of the Polti VisitMalta team – This is our sixth Giro d’Italia (previously under the name Eolo Kometa), we have three important areas and a staff that has been with us for years now. In addition to the sports organisation, obviously, we have one linked to marketing and communication and then we have one regarding the guests and the guests.” Behind him the athletes begin to get off the bus. In the morning of Friday 22 May 2026 no roller session took place ahead of the stage, but in any case the bikes Aurum Magma they remained in the shade (thanks to a large awning that extends along the entire right side of the Irizar i6S) and protected from the heat. Near the axle and the rear door, some of the guest present in Piazza Garibaldi had the opportunity to sip a steaming coffee prepared from one of the machines which, during long daily journeys, are hidden behind a special compartment.
For Basso, who in 2015 took off his cycling helmet to put on his manager’s cap, the innovations present (especially on the logistical front) in the world of professional cycling are almost natural. “What has changed the world, not just the cycling teams. Once upon a time it was called from the room phone, now… – explained the former champion – There has been an evolution and I believe that cycling is still trying to catch up with other sports: certain things that happen in modern cycling in American NBA basketball happened thirty years ago“. Then, looking at the progressive growth of the race that consecrated him, Basso only has some honey words. “The Giro d’Italia has certainly had a huge evolution, an increase in the public and an improvement in terms of activity, even beyond the race. In addition to a discussion relating to the materials used and the performances, there has also been a clear improvement from a communication point of view: today, in addition to the live broadcast of the race, there are various specific activities to attract a younger audience. From this point of view I believe that RCS Sport & Events have been very good in recent years at taking care of this innovation which has brought new positive input. Every year, based on the economic resources we have, we also always try to strengthen the various departments and I believe that on the communication and marketing front our team is at the forefront”.
a… tour around bulgaria
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From Varese, home to the headquarters of the Polti VisitMalta teamto Bulgaria, and then set off again (from the late afternoon of Sunday 10 May 2026) towards Greece and, by sea, to the port of Catanzaro. A journey of 3,400 kilometers around Europe to reach the Great start of the Pink Race, which took place on 8 May 2026 from Nessabar, and the following start from Calabria of the fourth fraction. “Overall we started with a bus, a truck, a camper, five cars, two vans and two vans” he explains Maurizio Borseriniteam photographer and member of the communications team led by Barbara Vismara. In total the staff is made up of approximately 25 peoplewith some of the staff following the team to Bulgaria (the others reached Catanzaro directly) who then continued their activity behind the Tour of Hungary.
the satisfaction of bass and gavazzi
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A young model who, also in this edition, is honoring in the best possible way the invitation, in the form of a wild card, to the 109th Giro d’Italia. “On the sporting front we are running very well – this is the applause of Ivan Basso to his boys -, in an orderly and courageous way, on a par with teams that are even stronger on paper, so I am very proud of what the team has done in recent days. What they have demonstrated on a collective level is truly beautiful and admirable.” The director echoes this Francesco Gavazzi. “For us the first half of the Giro was certainly positive. We showed up practically every day, in stages where escape was more obvious and in others where legs were needed, we always tried to race to chase a placing and a victory. We hope to continue with this trend.”
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