When it came to choosing the name of Sven Vanthourenhout's successor as head of the Belgian national team, Federal President Tom Van Damme has backed Serge PauwelsIt was a matter of replacing the coach who won the European Championship with Merlier and with Evenepoel from the road world championship in Wollongong, the time trialists in Glasgow and Zurich and the double Olympic gold in Paris. Yet, despite having also spoke with Philippe Gilbert, the Belgian manager finally chose Serge Pauwels, a former professional who had been following the youth national teams for a few years and collaborated with the outgoing coach for the pros. A choice made for technical coherence and to save some money.
"The Federation's vision," the president explained, "is closer to Serge's. There were several discussions, but the candidates themselves were rather vague. Often they didn't know exactly what path they wanted to take, while internally we had a fully qualified candidateThe connection between young people and professionals has become so important that it's necessary to move forward. We've maintained this path."
What's happening here? It's taken for granted that Welcome It won't be confirmed. Who will replace him? It's a hot topic. Press rumors are spreading, but they will remain so until Federal Council next weekend, when everything will finally be known. Yet the names that emerged have stimulated some considerations, which we note as an aid to the choice: assuming that they are useful and above all that they are welcome.
Villa for professionals?
It has been read about Marco Villa to lead the national professional team And the track technician himself, who has apparently appeared worried lately. This is according to the athletes who have interacted with him. If this is the prospect that was offered to him, the concern is legitimate..
Villa is on the track what Vanthourenhout was on the road for Belgium and after Paris had already started thinking about 2028. He has an uncommon wealth of knowledge and the charisma to impose it, On the road, he'd find himself starting from scratch, managing athletes with far more experience than his own. It's a gamble, and certainly a way to save on hiring an outside coach. Does it arise from the desire to impose a working method? It's possible, but what method can you impose on athletes you manage for two races a year, without training them and discussing their programs as much as possible with their teams?
The Ceruti method
When it came to 1998 to replace Alfredo Martini as head of the national team, federal president Ceruti attempted a similar move. Sockets Antonio Fusi and threw him into the fray. The Lombard, who had previously led the junior and under-23 teams with impressive results, couldn't refuse the job, or was tempted by it, so he accepted.
It was said that he would bring his own working method and in fact he tried to do so. But at a certain point, professionalism rejected him and made his work impossible, which consisted of planning and preparing athletes who relied on him for their events. The fact remains that after some disagreements and the 2000 World Championship in Plouay, his career ended to make way for Franco Ballerini. Fusi returned to the under 23s and at the end of 2005 left the Federation.
Salvoldi at the track?
Salvoldi replacing Villa on the men's track has a different logic and could work. Dino is the coach of the latest world records in team pursuitHis juniors have shone in their competitions and are the backbone of the national team that will compete for the Los Angeles Olympics in four yearsVilla is tired and the FCI wants to revitalize the sector? This could be the right path.
Salvoldi he is someone who studies and would have all the time to grow and make them grow, testing them in the annual events between now and 2027. Until then, Ganna, Milan, Consonni, Moro and the other WorldTour riders will be busy more on the road than on the track. His problem with them would be taking over after years of working with Villa, in a personal relationship that goes beyond that between coach and athleteBut Dino is a winning coach, perhaps the most successful among those dressed in blue and in the end, after having sniffed each other out, even the senators would recognize its value.As long as he is able to answer their questions.
Bragato on the women's track?
The women's track would instead go to Diego Bragato, currently responsible for the FCI Team Performance. It would be a matter of making it official a role that the Veneto has been playing for some years now, under the careful supervision of VillaHaving worked with Salvoldi when he led the women's sector, Bragato has the knowledge and personal relationships to perform well in the role, but should probably put aside its role of study or at least reduce his commitment.
Veil on the street women?
Then we talked about Marco Velo as women's coach, replacing Paolo Sangalli who in the meantime has arrived at Lidl-Trek. His responsibilities would be added to the control of the chrono sector, of which the Brescian was already the single point of contact for all levels of the national team. After much talk of theopportunity for women to have a female technician, it would be like closing the door without the feeling that a woman was truly sought for that role.
Recognizing Velo's expertise, having to follow elite women and also juniors, we wonder if he would leave the role in RCS Sports which keeps him busy for most of the season.
In short, the need to find a replacement for Bennati (whose biggest fault was saying "yes" too many times and making it to the national team during a period of riders who failed to make their mark) would lead to a revolution. The coaches for the junior and under-23 teams still need to be determined (will there be a role for Mario Scirea?), as well as those for off-road racing. It is not known whether the reasons for this stem from technical and economic needs or electoral debts., but we'll figure it out soon.
The fact is that the current structure worked and that, net of a couple of adjustments in the relationships between the sectors, it could still work. With the pros' manager replaced, the work would still flow well. Are we sure that a reshuffle of this kind is what Italian cycling needs?
