#TotA Day 1 - The 47th edition begins from Neumarkt/Egna 

Good Morning from the 2024 Tour of the Alps! The 47th edition of the euro-regional stage race (April 15-19) gets this morning, Monday, April 15th, from Neumarkt/Egna, for the second South Tyrolean depart in the history of the event organized by GS Alto Garda: in 2021, Brixen/Bressanone hosted the official depart in the edition of the restart after the health emergency.

Surrounded by kilometers of vineyards between hills, lakes, and villages in a wonderful corner of Südtirol/Alto Adige known as “Wine Route”, riders will face a nervous opening stage with finish line in Kurtinig an der Weinstraße/Cortina sulla Strada del Vino after 133,3 Km of race.

Following the first 25 kilometers heading south on the flats toward Trentino, the course climbs steadily with a consistent pitch until the Andalo KOM.

The ascent is followed by a beautiful descent featuring long straights as well as wide switchbacks. Upon reaching km 80, the peloton crosses the finish line in Kurtinig an der Weinstraße/Cortina sulla Strada del Vino for the first time, and tackles a loop to be repeated twice, with the Penon/Penone climb as its highlight.

Only the first pass on the Penon/Penone climb qualifies for the KOM. The 4,3-km ascent boasts double digit grades during the first part on a rather narrow road surface. Following the second ascent, there are only 17 kilometers left until the finish — five kilometers consist of a technical downhill, and twelve are flat stretches until the finish line in Kurtinig an der Weinstraße/Cortina sulla Strada del Vino.

DISPOSITION

Meeting Place: 10.00, Neumarkt/Egna, Hauptplatz/Piazza Centrale
Start: 11.55, Neumarkt/Egna, Hauptplatz/Piazza Centrale
Finish: 15.15, Kurtinig adW/Cortina sulla Strada del Vino, Weinstraße/Via del Vino 
Intermediate Sprints: Spormaggiore (Km 33,9), Margreid adW/Magré SSDV (Km 96,1)
KOM: Andalo (3rd cat., km 44,8); Penon/Penone (2nd cat., km 89,8)
Totahaus Würth Permanence: Kurtinig adW/Cortina SSDV, Centro Curtinie, Piazza San Martino, 1

THE STARTING LING: NEUMARKT/EGNA. Since 2014, Neumarkt/Egna has been recognized as one of the 'Most Beautiful Villages in Italy.' It served as an important river port in Südtirol/Alto Adige, where wood was primarily processed to make rafts for transportation on the Adige River. The city's patron saint, who is also invoked as a protector against floods, is St. Nicholas. A Romanesque-style church dedicated to him dates back to the 12th century. Additionally, Neumarkt/Egna was named the European Town of Sport in 2020.

ON THE ROAD: A scenic, winding mountain road swiftly connects the village of Kurtatsch/Cortaccia to the Fennberg high plateau. At the heart of this high plateau is the small but captivating Fennberger Lake. Designated as a biotope and home to unique flora and fauna, it’s anyway possible to swim in it, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy the panoramic vistas on the quaint church and the surrounding mountains.

THE FLAVOR OF THE STAGE: Few may know that Kurtatsch, renowned for its bespoke vineyards and award-winning wines, also harbors a group of adept farmers who have been skillfully cultivating olives for years. The local branch of the Südtirol Bauernbund (South Tyrolean Farmers' Association) initiated the 'Kurtatsch Olive Oil' project in early November 2008. Since then, the group's exquisite oil has garnered multiple awards, and production has increased notably. To experience this 'green gold,' make sure to attend the area's events and festivals.

DON'T MISS: The celebrated Kurtatsch winery is an absolute must-see. Established in 1900 and undergoing a complete renovation for its 120th anniversary in 2020, which was unveiled in 2021, the winery now comprises 190 members. Constructed with slabs of Dolomite rock, the façade stands as an architectural marvel. Its silhouette echoes the contour of the mountains that rise in front of the winery.

THE FINISH: KURTINIG ADW/CORTINA SSDV. Dubbed the 'Land of Vines,' this locale spans just two square kilometers, making it one of the smallest municipalities in Südtirol/Alto Adige. The historic center is anchored by the Gothic St. Martin's parish church, situated near the river. Historically prone to flooding, this proximity earned the area the nickname 'Little Venice.' A longstanding tradition here includes cultivating extensive vines that ascend the walls of ancient farmhouses, known locally as "Hausreben".

TV DISTRIBUTION
Every day, 2 hours of Live broadcast will characterize 2024 Tour of the Alps, from 1.30 pm CET to 3.30 pm CET, thanks to the new multi-year agreement with Infront Sports & Media.

TV: Eurosport (Europe, Asia Pacific, Central America, South America), RaiSport (Italy, San Marino, Vatican City), ORF (Austria), Equipe TV (France, Monaco and Andorra), EITB (Spain), Flosports (USA, Canada, Australia), DirecTV (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Perù, Uruguay and Venezuela) and RTVC (Colombia). EBU News will also distribute images from the Tour of the Alps to news programmes across Europe.

SIDE EVENTS

Neumarkt/Egna

10.30 - 12.30 - Stands with local products (upper arcades)

10.45 - Bike show by Mario Neurauter (upper arcades)

10.30 - 12.30 - Exhibition of old bicycles (upper arcades)

Kurtinig ADW/ Cortina SSDV

12.30 – 14.30 - Painting competition award ceremony on the theme of bicycles and Lasagna for children and parents (in front of the Hotel Teutschhaus)

13.00 – 16.00 - Stands with local products (Piazza San Martino)

20.00 - Euregio Talk with Lukas Pöstlberger, Eva Lechner, Thomas Pupp, Peter Brunner, Manfred Mayr and Katharina Zeller (Hotel Teutschhaus)

WEATHER FORECAST: Cloudy skies but above-average temperatures are forecast for the first stage of the Tour of the Alps. No precipitation is expected.