What is in the red podium winners boxes at the Giro d'Italia?

The Giro d’Italia offers more than just the coveted Maglia Rosa and stage victories; it also presents riders with a variety of unique prizes that add an intriguing dimension to the race. While the overall winner secures a substantial cash prize of €115,668 and stage winners receive €11,010 each—often shared among team members—there are other, less conventional awards handed out daily. Among these are oversized wine glasses branded with a Pinot Grigio label, which have become a curious fixture on the podium, despite their impractical size for travel. A particularly distinctive prize for stage winners is a pair of Tramarossa denim jeans, presented in a slim red box. Tramarossa, an Italian brand partnered with the Giro this year, offers jeans retailing from around €340. The daily presentation of these jeans adds a fashionable twist to the race’s rewards, although riders, fatigued after demanding stages, may not be eager to try them on immediately. This tradition of unusual prizes is not new to cycling, with past races awarding everything from salmon to even a pig, highlighting the sport’s quirky side. In addition to stage prizes, the current wearer of the Maglia Rosa receives a pink box from Altograno, a flour blend company. This box contains flour and related products, offering a more practical, if unexpected, token of leadership. Jonas Vingegaard, who claimed the pink jersey on Stage 14, has been accumulating these flour products as he maintains his overall lead, demonstrating the race’s blend of tradition and sponsorship creativity. The recent queen stage victory by Sepp Kuss, a teammate of Vingegaard, not only bolstered their team’s standing but also added to the growing collection of prizes for Visma-Lease a Bike. As the Giro approaches its conclusion in Rome, the combination of sporting excellence and these distinctive awards continues to capture the imagination of fans and participants alike, underscoring the rich tapestry of culture and competition that defines the event.