Consorzio Vini di Romagna is present for this year’s 100Km del Passatore

The 48^th edition of 100 km del Passatore is postponed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Associazione della Firenze-Faenza, together with the Società del Passatore, Consorzio Vini di Romagna, UOEI, CSEN and CAI, has decided to organize a Special Edition of the Italian 100-km marathon this Saturday May 22. The event has been organized to send a message of hope for all fans and volunteers, but it also symbolizes the desire to continue a long-running tradition that began on a cold morning in January 1973.

History, legend and cups of coffee: how the Passatore began

The idea of a 100-km marathon sprang during that cold winter in the minds of well-known and loved Alteo Dolcini, Francesco Calderoni, Renato Cavina, Carlo Raggi and Elio Assirelli, while drinking Sangiovese from Cà de Bè and a cup of hot espresso on the counter of Caffè da Egidio. In that small yet fertile space, one that only long-time friends can create and keep, the idea of a 100km marathon was born: a race along asphalt roads and through the hearts of two majestic regions, Tuscany and Romagna, from Florence to Faenza, following in the footsteps of the legendary Stefano Pelloni.

Stefano Pelloni, the Passatore after whom this crazy yet wonderful race is named, was a mythical figure whose story is a thing of legends and myths. A desperado from Forlimpopoli who lived in the early 19^th century, traces of his ventures and forays can be found in historical documents as well as in those stories that have been handed down from one generation to another. One thing’s for sure: modern-day runners who participate in this race trace the steps of the Passatore and his companions every year. A course that, for a day and a night, brings different chapters of history together.

The idea of a 100-km marathon sprang during that cold winter

Le Vie del Sangiovese unites Consorzio Vini di Romagna and 100Km del Passatore

Consorzio Vini di Romagna has been a proud partner of 100Km del Passatore since 1973, sharing the same founding values and traditions. Since 2015, 100KM del Passatore has been embellished with the pay-off “Le vie del Sangiovese” (“The roads of Sangiovese”), highlighting the key role that winemaking plays in Tuscany and in Romagna, both united by a lasting bond to Sangiovese.

For this Special Edition, a 5km track has been designed inside the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola: the 300 participants must run along this track 20 times. Legendary champions like Giorgio Calcaterra, Marco Menegardi, Silvano Beatrici, Denise Tappata, Federica Moroni and Sara Trevisan will be at the starting line.

So, mark your calendars: this Saturday, we’ll see you at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola to run the most spectacular 100km in the world together with the best DOP wines of Romagna 🍷

See you there!