Can you still become a professional at 25? The answer is yes, just ask Riccardo Lucca, who will be racing with the Bardiani CSF Faizanè. The team led by Bruno Reverberi believed in the boy from Trentino, this year in force at Work Service, and these days busy racing in the Giro del Friuli.
Even though the cycling world is moving ever faster, where patience seems to be a lost virtue, Lucca has not given up. This year, at the Adriatica Ionica Race, he had achieved his first victory in a professional race, admitting that no team had yet contacted him.
Here is Bardiani
Finally, someone knocked on the door of the Trentino rider, and he was wearing the purple, white, and green Bardiani jersey. In 2023, Lucca will turn professional, and then, Curious about this somewhat unconventional choice, we asked Mirko Rossato why.
«Lucca, for better or for worse, we have been following him for a long time – he tells us from Belgium, where he follows the under 23s at the Flanders Tomorrow Tour – He had a difficult journey due to many physical problems, including CovidUntil two years ago everyone spoke highly of him. I spoke to Giorgio Furlan about him and he told me the boy was strong, with a great drive. The same Zocarato, our rider, always told us that among amateurs the reference point for escapes, and not only, was LuccaWe had already tried to sign him in 2021 but it didn't materialize, but this year, however, things went well. Then he had a test with Pino Toni, and he vouched for his great qualities."
Already ready
Reaching the pros at an above-average age is synonymous with tenacity. Even in the face of a thousand difficulties, Lucca has never given up., in fact, he had started from Work Service to redeem himself. The plan worked, and now everyone seems curious to see it in action, Bardiani first and foremost.
«I wouldn't call ours a move that goes against the grain – explains Rossato – we're a team that gives riders the chance to try and become professionals. We also took Fiorelli when he was a little bigger than the others and look what a great season he's havingIt was right to give Lucca a chance, I'm happy for him and convinced he can do well. His age allows him to be ready perhaps for some important races, I wouldn't be surprised if he was at the start of the Giro d'Italia in 2023."
A word from Pino Toni
So, if it is true that Lucca has made some tests by Bardiani trainer Pino Toni you have to ask him what kind of rider he found.
«You can imagine my opinion – Pino Toni begins – if we take a rider from Bardiani it means it's goodLucca is someone who has the numbers, he always has, but he raced in poorly organized teams, or ones that didn't showcase his qualities. Ultimately, when you're in a team where you win a lot, everyone looks at the number of victories and not the quality of the riders; the market tilts toward the winners. After seeing the Lucca tests I picked up the phone and called Bruno (Reverberi, ed.) and I told him that a rider like that is a must-have. He is a very intelligent boy who is studying sports and training.He's taken care of even the smallest details, shedding those two or three extra kilos, and now it shows. He's got a lot of power; the races he's won are all similar: a flat circuit and then a final climb, sometimes a long one, of 11 or 12 kilometers. On the flat at 45 km/h it goes with a little gas, easily, and then also uphill it performs very well».
One like few others
Judging from the words of Rossato and Pino Toni it seems that someone like Lucca is a rider that is very rare in cycling. Yet, until June, it was not not even sure of finding a place, and at the end of last season he continued because he was motivated by others and not because he believed in it completely.
«This is a rider with numbers – Toni continues – he hasn't been appreciated for what his numbers are, people don't look at his ability but at his victories, in my opinion if he's motivated he goes strong. I've been testing since 1996 and I've always done it with a power meter.I've seen very few riders like him, especially Politt, who finished second in Paris-Roubaix. He's very similar to the German, plus he has better aerodynamics and a higher power-to-weight ratio. Also because Lucca is 84 meters tall and weighs 74 kilos. I do tests, not the shopping campaign, so I interfere very little, but we couldn't leave a rider like this around, especially in a team like ours.
«I hope he can have a good career in Bardiani, but for me it won't last long. In the sense that he has so many interesting opportunities for professional growth, he could aspire to a WorldTour team in a short time. If he had been born in Belgium, Lucca would already have been at Quick Step for at least three years. If I had to compare him to a rider I would put him closer to De GendtA rider who, when leading a small group, goes at half-throttle and then also has the strength to get away from them. He has potential, but he just has to learn to manage it., it will have to be as “economical” as possible, it has the engine capacity, it must not run out of petrol».
