Every year, at the start of the season, the neopros arrive in droves. Some walk the red carpet, starting their adventures with WorldTour teams, while others begin with professional teams. Some believe this is the best way to approach this world: teams have (or should have) more patience, and riders have more opportunities to shine.
The Italian boys who will enter the world of professionalism in 2022 are 15: three will do it in WorldTour teams, the others with professional teams. It's about boys who have been under the magnifying glass Marino Amadori, for this reason we have him describe them to us directly.
Word to the city
Filippo Baroncini (Trek Segafredo, 2000): «The one who will have all eyes on him, given his victory at the World Cup in Leuven. Also one of the three to pass in a WorldTour teamExpectations will be high, he's a very determined and confident boy. He could have gone pro last year in a professional, but he waited for the big call."
Gabriele Benedetti (Drone hopper, 2000): «Another important jersey that he won't be able to show off, however, is that of Italian champion. As he demonstrated in his victory in the Italian championship. he's a natural striker, he never backs downHe's a bit inconsistent. With Savio he can work well and show off in some breakaways."
Luca Colnaghi (Bardiani CSF Faizanè, 1999): «A born winner and a fast wheel that holds well even on climbs, the right characteristics for a modern rider. He achieved excellent results in the under-23s with some nice international victories."
Omar El Gouzi: (Bardiani CSf Faizanè, 1999)I would have liked to take him with me to the Tour de l'Avenir, but a crash prevented him from doing so. He wasn't always able to perform at his highest level, he's one of the guys who needs to matureWe'll have to do the sums in a couple of years."
Michele Gazzoli: (Team Astana, 1999): «The second to move to a World Tour team. He's a predestined player, he did very well in the juniors, a little less so in the under-23s. I took him to the world championships because it was a path suited to him, and in fact he finished fourth. Astana is an ambitious team, but with people with his characteristics who can be learned from."
Martin Marcellusi (Bardiani CSF Faizanè, 2000): «A finisher, he's a third year player, very talented. He too, due to various circumstances, hasn't been able to express himself at one hundred percent. And'a rider from côte, from semiclassiche. He ran the Piccolo Lombardia with me, where he did quite well (eleventh at the finish, ed.)».
Alessio Martinelli (Bardiani CSF Faizanè, 2001): «It's a second year, as we know young age can be a double-edged swordHe had a great Giro d'Italia U23 supporting Ayuso. Despite being a 2001, he's very tactically intelligent."
Alessio Nieri (Bardinai CSF Faizanè, 2001): «A climber in the true sense of the word, light and agile. At the Giro d'Italia U23 he finished seventh in the Aprica-Andalo stage, staying with the best. It takes patience to develop such young players, given his age he will play some international under-23 matches with Bardiani."
Luca Rastelli (Bardiani CSF Faizanè, 1999)He had a good season, competing in the Nations Cup with the national team. He's already played a few games with the pros, but without any great highlights. He made the switch at the right time, considering he's only a fourth-year player.
Philip Rudolph (Team Novo Disk, 2001)"The only one I haven't had the pleasure of seeing up close. He races on the right team for him, the one reserved for diabetic athletes. He was also born in 2001, so it remains to be seen."
Alessandro Santaromita Villa (Bardiani CSF Faizanè, 1999): «A cross-country skier in the true sense of the word, the under 18 races were perhaps even too short for him. I'm curious to see it at its proper distances."
Manuel Tarozzi (Bardiani CSF Faizanè, 1998): «It has grown year after year. It's very inconsistent, we'll have to work on this.He has proven to be a natural striker, a quality that is highly valued in professional teams."
Alex Tolio (Bardiani CSF Faizanè, 2000)Next year he'll still be an under, so the same applies to Nieri and Martinelli. He's already had some great races and just as many victories. I took him to the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali with the national team. He was doing well, but then he crashed. He's very determined and can do really well.
Alessandro Verre (Arkea samsic, 2001): «The best climber under 23 that we have in Italy. He had a decent Tour de l'Avenir, he moved to the best professional team there is.With the opportunity to race alongside a true climber like Quintana, from whom he can learn a lot. I hope to work together again, perhaps at the next Tour de l'Avenir."
Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain Victorious, 2001): "Third rider to move to a WorldTour team. He did great things in the Under-23s, at his first U23 Giro d'Italia, in 2020 he finished tenth in the general classification. This year he did it again; he's an athlete who always appears in the finishing order, and the World Tours immediately notice this."
