As always, the third stage promises to be the most charming, but this is also where the biggest change comes. The exit from Rome up to Lake Bolsena, Ronciglione and Viterbo, followed by the beautiful hill climb to Radicofani, is the same as last year, though hopefully the construction work that prevented a drive past the church last year will have finished. Then the same magical route up to Siena and the drive through the Piazza del Campo. As last year, the convoy will then go west to Pisa and Lucca but then instead of turning east to the legendary passes of Futa and Raticosa, it will keep heading north to the Passo della Cisa, a first for the modern Mille Miglia (though the real one passed through in 1949). And then the day ends in Parma.
There are many reasons for the change. In 2015 Italy is hosting the international Expo. Milan will be the main location but the whole country will be involved in celebrating the event, which is dedicated to food and feeding the planet. Parma is where Italy’s food university is located, so it seemed like an appropriate place for the Mille Miglia to visit in this special year. Similarly, though this is not yet 100% confirmed, there are plans for the race to pass through Milan itself on its way to Brescia the next day.
