Prosecco Cycling Classic starts pedalling again. On Tuesday December 1st applications for the event of October 3rd 2010 will open. The most faithful participants who took part in the 2008 and 2009 editions can apply online (on the web site www.laprosecco.com), through Active Europe, taking advantage of the easy fee of 29 euro (besides 10 euro of deposit to rent the chips which will be returned after the race and besides 3.54 euro for commission). This special offer for faithful participants will be valid until January 31st 2010 and the first entrant, as from December 1st will receive a free 2 litre magnum bottle of Valdobbiadene Prosecco with Registered Designation of Origin Extra Dry Spumante Villa Sandi. The official opening of the applications for all other athletes will begin, both on-line and off-line on February 1st with a price of 33 euro (besides 10 euro of deposit to rent the chips which will be returned after the race and besides 3.79 euro for commission for on-line applications).

PROSECCO CYCLING CLASSIC, A WINE EMOTION

Prosecco Cycling Classic began in 2004 in order to promote Prosecco hills gorgeous territory, through sport, and cycle racing in particular. The sixth edition of Prosecco Cycling Classic will take place on October 4th 2009, starting from and arriving to Piazza Marconi, in Valdobbiadene. It is just in the heart of Veneto, the Italian region with more tourists, not far from Venice (80 km) and Treviso (40 km).

THE EVENT – A sports event, and much more. Those taking part in Prosecco Cycling Classic know that in Valdobbiadene they can find an organization which places the athlete in the first place, and considers him/her as a true guest. Prosecco Cycling Classic interprets the tourist vocation of Marca Trevigiana (March of Treviso) in the best possible way. On the eve of the competition, athletes are welcomed in the wonderful background of Tenuta Villa Sandi, in Zecchei, where, through tastings of local products and guided visits to the wineries, they can discover one of the most typical products of the rich range of foods and wines of Treviso area: Prosecco. On Sunday the competition is accompanied by fireplaces, great guests and shows for children and adults in the main square. A lot of fun for an event which has chosen sport as a way to promote the territory and Valdobbiadene Prosecco with Registered Designation of Origin.

THE COURSES - Prosecco Cycling Classic offers two courses, the long-distance (125 km) and the medium-distance (65 km). Both start from and arrive in the heart of Valdobbiadene (Treviso), a town known as the capital city of sparkling white wine. The routes unwind in the middle of Prosecco hills, along the roads which, on May 11th next, will host the third stage of the 100th edition of Giro d’Italia.

SOLIDARITY - Prosecco Cycling Classic helps also those in need. In 2008 Prosecco Cycling Classic contributed to building two photovoltaic plants in Africa: one was set up in a hospital in Dakar, capital city of Senegal, and the other in the Salesian mission of Zway, in Ethiopia. Prosecco Cycling Classic supported also the initiative of Do-Mani association, a local voluntary group which helps a poor family living in Valdobbiadene Municipality.

ENVIRONMENT – Cycling also means respecting the territory and, in 2008, Prosecco Cycling Classic has been the first in Italy to use a photovoltaic plant to meet its energy requirements. Prosecco Cycling Classic has also launched a campaign to raise awareness on the importance of respecting the environment among cyclists, inviting them to carry rubbish back home and not to leave it on the territory.