Aprilia Racing rider Marco Bezzecchi was among the notable torchbearers for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
The 27-year-old Italian, who finished third in the MotoGP standings in 2025, took part in the 29th stage of the Olympic torch relay and was given the honour of lighting up the cauldron at Piazza Malatesta in Rimini on Monday.
No motorbike? No problem.
🔥Marco Bezzecchi with the Olympic Flame lights up the streets of Rimini. #MilanoCortina2026 #TorchRelay2026 #Olympics #Olimpiadi #Rimini pic.twitter.com/VkLC9Dta64
— Milano Cortina 2026 (@milanocortina26) January 5, 2026
The Olympic Flame had arrived in Rome from Olympia, Greece, on December 4, with the torch relay beginning two days later.
The relay for one of the biggest sporting events of 2026 will cover approximately 12,000km across 20 regions and 110 provinces in Italy, before reaching the iconic San Siro Stadium for the opening ceremony on February 6.
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Bezzecchi was not the only motorsport figure involved in the relay, with four-time 250cc world champion Max Biaggi, former Pramac Racing rider Danilo Petrucci and motocross racer Tony Cairoli also participating in earlier stages.
Former Grand Prix world champions Giacomo Agostini and Francesco Bagnaia are scheduled to take part later this month as well.
Meanwhile, other high-profile torchbearers for the winter spectacle include 2006 FIFA World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, former Formula One driver Antonio Giovinazzi and Hollywood actor Jackie Chan.
