The Giro d'Italia organiser RCS Sport unveiled the four leaders' jerseys to be awarded at its three-week stage race in May. Last night at Dolce & Gabbana's Martini Bar, the 2011 pink jersey was on display for the first time.
"The maglia rosa [pink jersey] was designed by Jonny Mole," read a press release. It has "A very strong national accent."
A tricolour stripe along the collar and just under the chest mark the jersey. The colours – green, white and red – and the number 150 celebrate the anniversary of the Italy's unification. Victor Emanuel II became the first king of a united Italy 150 years ago after years of city-states rivalries and foreign occupation.
The tricolour stripes "shelters a big heart and two strong lungs of the man who will deserve to wear it."
In addition, Italian actress Cristiana Capotondi presented the Giro's three other jerseys: the best young rider's white jersey, the red sprint jersey and the green mountains jersey. At the end of the Giro, the best team in the fair play classification will receive a special Italian jersey, or maglia tricolore. The Italian jersey was not presented.
Capotondi will appear at select stages as the 'madrina' or godmother of the race.
"I hope to follow a lot of stages from the car, but I would never be able to ride the Passo Pordoi!" she said at the presentation. "Those cyclists are the heroes, dedicated to the struggle."
The Giro d'Italia starts in Turin on May 7 with a team time trial and ends in Milan on May 29 with an individual time trial. It features seven mountain stages, including one up Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano.
This year, the race passes 17 of Italy's 20 regions and marks 80 years since the pink jersey was first used, in 1931. The race began in 1909.