Let's try to change perspective this time. And what if, rather than the merit of foreigners, there was an Italian demerit at the root? Why are all these child prodigies coming from overseas? We might have them too, but are we missing something? It's a very lively Bartoli who enters into this discussion and in the end he will also prove to be quite convincing..
«In Tuscany we are special at complaining – says Michele, born in 1970 – but what we felt after the La Torre GP is incomparable (the Fucecchio race won by Buratti, at the start, ed.). Some people were furious because the continentals came and dominated the race.It's absurd just to think about it. If you want your riders to take a step forward, they need to compete with stronger riders.At 18, I ran against Manzi, who was six years older than me, or against Brugna, who had been a professional and then returned to the amateurs. Like me, too. Casagrande, Bakers, pantani, Belli… All of us from 1970 and thereabouts. But then, as soon as we passed, we also won immediately. And mind you, it wasn't a coincidence.».
And the U23s came
Just go back a little with your memory to see again Italy's amateurs before the arrival of the under-23s. Giving a blow to the hoop and another to the barrel, it is right to remember that 1996, when the new category was established, coincided with that crazy jump in blood values, which distorted racing seasonsThe under 23s were not immune, so in the name of their protection, a whole series of precautions were implementedAnd from there we never moved.
To the point that today foreign juniors and then the under 23s immediately begin to train as professionals and compete at the highest levels, while There are still precautions in place that perhaps should be reviewedNot out of disrespect for the athletes and their talent, but because the world has changed and today the effort no longer relies on chemistryIt's the same principle that explains why children in Northern Europe play barefoot in the rain, while ours are bundled up by their mothers who won't let them leave the house.
Is comparing yourself to the strongest beneficial?
In my first two races as an amateur,” Bartoli recalls, “Manzi came in first and I came in second. He was born in 1964, I was born in 1970. I couldn't sleep at nightNot because I was burning up at losing, but thinking about how I could have beaten him, anticipated him, outwitted him. If you find the strongest, you are forced to learnWhat difference does it make to you if you win a race by beating three kids? Who benefits?
Perhaps to the team that thus seems more attractive to the sponsor.
Maybe. The problem is that in Italy we often don't aim to develop young people, except to go to the bar the next day and brag about having won. In Tuscany, we're good at it, but it probably happens throughout Italy. Only a few work really well...
Who are you talking about?
of the Ointment, the Colpack, Friuli coach and the few teams that continue to bring out riders.
According to Bartoli, do they also take out riders by going to regional races?
This is another matter and concerns the level of activity you make him do. If I had a continental, I wouldn't go to La Torre, but I would go to races where there are valuable riders.But if I have a small team and I get the continental title, I have to be happy, because I am offered the opportunity to gain experiencePerhaps we should start with the sporting directors…
How should they be made?
I remember having some from whom you could really learn a lot. Massini, for example, who came back from retirement and is now the sports director of GragnanoHe taught cycling to many champions. Or the TortoliThey were ambitious sports directors, who however They always protected the rider, they didn't send him to make a fool of himself if he wasn't wellTortoli was the one who would cut the chain if I wasn't feeling well. And he'd tell me to break it with a kick, so I could stop and not make a fool of myself. These days, they seem to be really underprotected.
Mattia Pinazzi won in Misano, wearing the Arvedi jersey: not a continental one At Misano, the starting field was first class, but a non-continental U23 won
Mattia Pinazzi won in Misano, wearing the Arvedi jersey: not a continental one At Misano there are first class starters and the professional ones did not win
If you find the strongest, you are forced to learn: explain, please.
You get resourceful. You train harder. I turned professional and immediately won three racesCasagrande won in his first year. Pantani had tendinitis, but in his second year he outdistanced Indurain and finished on the podium at the Giro and the Tour. It was lucky for us to have those thirty-year-old riders around, because they saved us time.. Instead now everything takes too long…
Why?
Because there are people who have been part of the team for years, but it doesn't teach the cycling that's out there now. Instead, abroad they are not afraid to make them compete with the strongest and when professionals arrive they already have an extra gear.
