Fulfilling one's full potential, without any gender barriers, because well-being primarily stems from equal opportunities and respect. This is the message and goal of Polti, a leading company in the small household appliances sector in steam applications and a historical supporter of the cycling world, which this year will sponsor the Maglia Rosa of the Giro d'Italia Women, unveiled today in Milan.

The first edition under the RCS Sports banner of the stage race dedicated to the best athletes in the international cycling scene will start on July 7 from Brescia and conclude in L'Aquila on the 14th. A race that, with almost twelve thousand metres of elevation gain, an individual time trial, two flat stages, three medium mountain stages, and two high mountain stages with two summit finishes, is just as spectacular and demanding as the men's race.

Francesca Polti, President and CEO of the Polti Group, found it natural to agree to the sponsorship of the Women's Maglia Rosa, the symbol par excellence of the Giro d'Italia. For those who have always had the mission of ensuring well-being in their homes, promoting well-being through sport means combining passion and the values ​​they consistently support: "It is an honour that my surname - and our brand - is on such a prestigious symbol, which represents an aspiration, a choice consistent with the values ​​of our company," declared Francesca Polti, at the helm of an international company where over 60% of employees are women. Female empowerment is a value that Francesca promotes within the company, but also externally as Vice President of Confindustria Como with responsibility for Industrial Relations, Social Security, Welfare, and People. "Recognising women's equal rights in sacrifice and commitment, both in the professional world and in the sports world, is now more indispensable than ever," continued Francesca Polti. "Promoting respect and inclusivity has always been part of our DNA. Presenting the jersey on March 8 further strengthens this message, contributing to breaking down gender barriers, confirming the ongoing cultural change, and increasing awareness of the undeniable need for everyone to continue on this path."

The Maglia Rosa is therefore a choice of continuity with its own values ​​and the symbol of an aspiration, a dream, like that of Alfonsina Strada, the first female cyclist to participate in the men's Giro d'Italia in 1924, and to whom the highest climb of the race is dedicated this year, the Blockhaus.

Alfonsina Strada was the first to break down gender barriers in Italian cycling, becoming a legendary figure and inspiring many women to pursue their dreams in the world of sports, and this is also the goal that Polti wants to achieve by putting equal opportunities and respect first.