Fidanza says goodbye to her daughters and leaves with Realini

the 2022 for John Fidanza sit will be like the beginning of a new era. After fourteen years in fact – since the times of the Still Bike in 2007 in the youth categories – the Bergamo team manager will not have at least one of the two daughters. Martina just signed for two years with the Ceratizit WNT while Arianna, who we will see again with the Jayco Bike Exchange, she had already gone abroad in 2020. There is nothing to fear though, the basin of his Isolmant-Premac-Vittoria it's not empty.

«It will have a certain effect on me – admits the former pro of the 80s/90s, with a stage at the Giro and one at the Tour – but it was a natural thing, which had to happen sooner or later. That's right, we don't have the structure to go any further than this. It will be the same for the other girls. Our identity remains that of helping them grow and then trying to get them into the most important teams.. For us and our sponsors these are all reasons for satisfaction."

Realini leader

In the next season the headlights will inevitably be pointed on Gaia Realini, reconfirmed (At the beginning, the signing of the contract last October). The 2001-born athlete from Pescara – now involved in cyclocross, his primary discipline – at the last Giro d'Italia Women's cycling she was the absolute revelationEleventh in the general classification and second in the one reserved for young people, to which must be added the beautiful fifth place at the European Championships, helping Zanardi win gold.

"Gaia achieved good results," Fidanza continued, "beyond our wildest expectations. She immediately attracted the attention of several WorldTour teams. I'll tell you what she thinks." I already know that we won't be able to hold her back much longer either.».

The impression is that this last sentence smells of a transfer deal already concluded with a big team.

Giovanni, what team will you have in 2022?

We'll have a team of thirteen athletes. In addition to Realini, We have confirmed Alice Gasparini, Beatrice Rossato, Emanuela Zanetti, Greta Tebaldi and Noemi Lucrezia EremitaSeven more girls will arrive. Angelica Brogi and the Spanish Ainara albert, a 2003 passista waiting to be discovered who also does cyclocross and track. We'll announce the others in a few days.

What goals do you have?

As I was saying before, that of to grow and highlight our girlsWe want to continue to achieve results both in the open races and in the rest of the national calendar. We should already have guaranteed participation in the most important races, such as Strade Bianche, Cittiglio and Giro d'ItaliaThen we'll see if we'll be invited to foreign competitions too.

When will the season start?

We will have a week-long retreat between the end of February and the beginning of March to prepare for the first appointments. We will go to Montecatini Terme, a convenient location for running to Siena and then the next day to Montignoso in Versilia.

How will Realini's season be managed?

First for her it will be another year of growth and maturationShe's still very young. We're aiming for a very specific schedule for her. She's currently racing cyclocross and He will probably continue until the end of winter to compete in Strade Bianche and Cittiglio (scheduled for March 5th and 20th respectively, ed.). Then we'll let her catch her breath before doing route to the Italian championship, Giro Donne and other eventsi. 

Besides her, who do you expect anything in particular from?

Zanetti won an open race this year (the Silvia Piccini Memorial, ed.) and can still showcase her good skills as a fast rouleur. Then I'd say Brogi, who has shown she can perform well in the past. This could be her year, a make-or-break year. Finally, I'd like to mention Gasparini, who has had some problems in recent years. I expect more from her, and if she were to return to the level she showed as a junior, I'd be very happy.. Moreover in the last few days she was hit by a driver who failed to yield at a roundabout. Fortunately, he's okay, but these things are unfortunately becoming more and more common. 

Giovanni, let's close with your assessment of your daughters now that they're both abroad. What do you expect from them next year?

I expect Martina to gain experience at certain levels. In recent years she has sacrificed the road for the track, but I believe that if they give her space she can do very well in some racesArianna, on the other hand, has recovered well from her left kneecap injury. She's training hard. She's more ready to face certain races now than before. I hope she has a little more luck., because I know it can yield good results.