Cyclists' Blessing at the Sanctuary of Castelmagno

A mass among bicycles, at 1,760 metres

There is a moment, every year in June, when the Sanctuary of San Magno in Castelmagno, in the heart of the upper Grana Valley in the province of Cuneo, stops being just a mountain place of faith for a few hours and becomes a meeting point for hundreds of cyclists. It is the Cyclists' Blessing, a holy mass celebrated on the churchyard at an altitude of 1,760 metres, amidst the bikes of the enthusiasts who have pedalled all the way up the valley ramps.

A ritual preceding La Fausto Coppi

The event stems from the collaboration between the sanctuary and the organizers of La Fausto Coppi, the international granfondo that attracts thousands of amateur cyclists from all over the world to Piedmont every year. The blessing is neither a race nor a competitive gathering: it is a moment of reflection and sharing that symbolically opens the season, a few weeks before the official start of the granfondo from Cuneo. As the organizers remind us, it is «a moment of sharing open to all», designed to build team spirit among cyclists, volunteers, and organizers.

The celebrant and the cyclist's prayer

The mass is celebrated by Father Gianmaria Giordano, known to all as «Don Gimmy», the rector of the sanctuary. At the end of the service, Don Gimmy blesses the cyclists and their bikes and gives each one a cyclist's prayer featuring the image of the sanctuary's patron saint. A simple and heartfelt gesture that unites the spiritual dimension with the sporting spirit of the mountains.

San Magno, the Fauniera, and the legend of Pantani

The Sanctuary of San Magno is one of the iconic landmarks of the Grana Valley: a 15th-century building overlooking the pastures where the famous Castelmagno PDO cheese is produced. From here, the road climbs towards Colle Fauniera (2,481 metres), also known as the «Pass of the Dead» and renamed «Colle Pantani»: in 1999, it was the stage for one of the most memorable feats of the Giro d'Italia, when Marco Pantani attacked right on these hairpin bends. A monument to the «Pirate» at the summit commemorates that epic event. For amateur cyclists, climbing to Castelmagno and receiving the blessing also means riding through the sites of a legendary page in cycling history.

An event open to all

The Cyclists' Blessing is free and open to anyone who wishes to participate, whether by bike or otherwise. It is an opportunity to experience the Cuneo mountains, discover the sanctuary, and breathe in the atmosphere that precedes La Fausto Coppi. Over the years, the initiative has been enriched with side events, such as afternoon concerts and volunteer days dedicated to maintaining and cleaning the high-altitude roads ahead of the granfondo.