Il Principe

With the Giro d’Italia in Piedmont the final episode of Kilometre 0 looks at one of the region’s favourite and most flamboyant cycling sons, Gianni Savio.

For over three decades Savio’s teams have survived on a modest budget and with a multitude of sponsors.

For some, Savio, with his regal air and elegance, is Il Principe, the prince, while for others he and his team have an uncomfortable association with some darker recent episodes in Italian cycling.

We hear from Savio himself as well as from Max Sciandri, Marco Pinotti, Giovanni Elena and Davide Ballerini, who is riding the Giro for Savio’s team, Androni — the only team to have placed a rider in a break in every stage of the race.