Dario Andriotto is the responsible for the youth area of the Eolo-Kometa, that's how he defined it Ivan Basso at the Gold Cup a few days ago. And since the words of the Varese native on the matter seemed very interesting to us, we went directly to the source, finding Dario in a phase without races, but about to go with the first team to the Pantani Memorial and the Matteotti Trophy.
«This fact of exchanging between one team and another – he says – therefore between young people and professionals, is an idea of Stephen Zanatta. This way we can all see how others work, we find useful ideas for growth and above all we get to know the guys with whom we will find ourselves working in various capacities.We use the same rule for our staff. We've been around for a year, we're finding the right balance, and we really believe in our systems."
Basso told us that you are creating a supply chain by interacting with various youth societies.
Exact. My job is to go and watch junior and under 23 racesTalking with the various sporting directors, we try to choose the most interesting guys.
What does Andriotto consider an interesting boy?
Some are strong as juniors and then lose their way. We're not interested in taking on a super winner who has no margins.That's why we look at the type of training they do, their motivations, and their running style.
How does an interesting rider run?
If he's always on the attack and has only won two races by the end of the year, that's one thing. If he's always in a pack and wins ten, that's another. We are looking for someone who is used to having the wind in his face, who is used to running.WorldTour teams don't scout enough and often recruit based on their number of wins…
How much business do the teams you deal with do abroad?
Not much, although sometimes going out could be very useful. The issue is always the lack of budget..
What impressions does Andriotto have of the juniors he meets?
The boys are very well-groomed, even too muchThe risk is that teams will take advantage of this, training them to win 10 races a year. When this happens, you automatically lower their margin for improvementI understand that small teams can find sponsors to keep going with victories, but for the kids' best interests, something else is needed.
Is this why you named Bustese Olonia after yourself?
Exactly, Because results don't serve to bring in money. The basic result doesn't matter.It's a historic team, where they work the old-fashioned way. Sobrero, Puppio, and even Oldani have been there. But there are others too. Piganzoli, who plays in the Under-23 team, comes from Trevigliese, where they work well. Montoli (opening photo, ed.), who is already more talented, came from Canturino. And Pellizzari was also in our orbit, but they came to take him away.
Here, Andriotto, let's talk about agents...
It's a problem, you have to tread carefully. If a kid is good, Five of them surround him and start making promises and telling him stories.If families are outside of cycling, sometimes they sign and history follows the course desired by others.
Sometimes the squadrons arrive…
Carlos Rodriguez he was one of our riders, grew up in the junior team of the Contador Foundation. When it came to joining us at the continental, the came Ineos who put the money on the table and took it awayI think this is not right, to the point that perhaps theUCI could consider compensation for those who nurture talentIn basketball, the team that takes a young player continues to pay a contribution to the club of origin. We will now take Oils laid down by the Bustese Olonia, rightly paying his points. We'll let him grow, but if they take him away, we'll have nothing..
Oioli himself won two stages at Lunigiana and finished fifth at the European Championships, with some controversy surrounding him…
The national team's activity has changed a lot compared to when I was doing the Cento Chilometri. Previously the coach was also our trainer, for the matches we were aiming for. Now on the one hand everything is more professional, on the other I remember that In the national team, we learned training concepts and methodologies that weren't available in the team. Our August training camps were also a way to protect the riders from excessive activity.Now they spent ten days in Livigno and then they met again in Trento.
Were companies happy in your day?
There was often bickering, because they were losing the riders for a long time. But we were working well on the objectiveAnd when the World Cup came around, because it came around often, you saw how happy they were to show off their shirts…
