«The Mortirolo is a heritage for everyone, and it would be crazy to close it to cyclists. It would mean throwing away the great promotional work done in recent years and enhancing the area by bringing, for example, the Giro d'Italia, which is no small economic effort. The climb is a unique heritage in the world and cannot be a problem». With these words, Gigi Negri, Director of the Media Valtellina Tourist Consortium, responds to La Provincia di Sondrio regarding the issue that has recently inflamed the world of cycling and the Valtellina territory.

As already reported by Tuttobiciweb, in fact, the dispute arises from the appeal launched by the local Mortirolo Friends Association, which has become the spokesperson for a discontent related to the lack of road widening of the almost 13 km climb that leads to Passo della Foppa, now Cima Pantani. «A widening of the carriageway to allow safe overtaking - locals explain - and avoid finding cyclists on the hood, or having the space to safely overtake them».

Closing the road to cyclists would be a great own goal, but finding a meeting point should be possible.