'El Diablo' Chiappucci: the first cyclist to tackle the climb from Marina Piccola to the Piazzetta in Capri

In Capri's history, Claudio Chiappucci is the first cycling champion to climb from Marina Piccola to the Piazzetta with its famous bell tower. Dressed in his Tour de France attire, wearing the yellow leader's jersey and a cap with sunglasses on the peak, El Diablo covered the 2700 meters from the area overlooking the legendary Faraglioni to the center of the world, amidst a crescendo of enthusiasm among tourists and VIPs. He is the testimonial of a two-day event that aims to highlight the importance of sports tourism, with rapidly growing numbers, and families and individuals choosing their vacation destinations based on their favorite sport. El Diablo effectively opened the event on the blue island, which includes an international forum on sports tourism this afternoon with champions, economists, and experts, and the presentation of the Record & Valori di Alma awards. Tomorrow evening, in the evocative setting of the Quisisana, the presentation of the "Storie Eccellenti" awards will be held, featuring figures such as Giancarlo Giannini and Gabriel Garko, to name just a few. "It was a very strong feeling. I even had the number I wore for the Tour, and at a certain point I dreamed of flying," confessed Chiappucci, who, escorted by Municipal Police and Carabinieri, set off without a traffic blockade at 9:30 a.m. and finished the race after a few laps of long bends and hairpin turns. Capri Mayor Gianni de Martino presented a historical book of the city, signed by the entire city council. For days, there has been discussion about a Capri circuit in 1958 where Fausto Coppi, the Campionissimo, supposedly finished second behind Bruno and ahead of Batiz. But there's also a dispute with Carpi. Perhaps it's the fault of a typo. "I certainly imagined Coppi from the Faraglioni to the Piazzetta. I'm very attached to Bartali, who in 1959 started a team with a patron of the time who had a house on Capri. I'm sure that in my little life story I can set the record as the first former professional cyclist to ride on Capri, where the use of bicycles is prohibited in many places. I even stood up on the pedals—it was all fantastic," added the champion.