Cycling is definitely in the DNA of Marco Selleri. When the manager of ExtraGiro He answers the phone and is at the Cicli Ronchini shop, a cornerstone of Imola cycling, to have the wheels of some MTBs fixed. He works there today. Fabio Patuelli, himself a former professional: on the walls posters of great champions and many bikes Colnago of every era. Selleri thus takes us into this authentic atmosphere.
Intense spring
With him, we take stock of ExtraGiro's activities, which is now restarting with another event-packed season.
«There's a lot of meat boiling in the pot – says Selleri – but it's not fully cooked yet. In a little while, we might be able to be more specific about a new event we strongly believe in; all that's missing is the signature. Better to wait a bit.
«For the rest, here we are: the March 26 in Bubbano di Mordano there will be a circuit for under 23s only. On May 1st there will be the White Roads of Romagna – Fausto Pezzi Memorial dedicated to students, and on May 28th, one for the under-23s. On June 5th, two international events will take place on the same day, both in Meldola. The women's open events will take place in the morning, while the under-23s will compete in the afternoon. On June 26th, women again: with the Italian elite championship».
But the events don't end there. ExtraGiro has its hands full this fall too.
«September will be dedicated to the gravel world – Selleri continues – We have three events scheduled. One, that's the big news that's brewing, and believe me, it's really important, it will be a gravel race UCIAnother race has already been scheduled for September 18th in Argenta in the province of Ferrara. While the previous weekend we are organizing the Valle Spluga Marathon, in Valchiavenna. But that is a cycling-tourism event."
«But let me remember a Memorial that is particularly dear to me. On March 26th in Mordano we will remember Sauro Coppini. Sauro was part of the technical escort for the last Giro d'Italia under-23, but he died in an accident during a transfer. He was a passionate person, and we want to say goodbye to him like this."
Here is the U23 Giro
But when we talk about ExtraGiro the main course is the Giro d'Italia under 23. The race is meticulously organized, boasts impressive facilities, and has excellent media coverage, which has boosted its popularity tremendously. And, forgive our parochialism, this opinion is also supported by our experience last year at the Tour de l'Avenir in France.
«The Giro will start on June 8th and will last until the 18th – continues Selleri – I can't say much, but I can reveal to you that, in order, We will cross six regions: Marche, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Trentino, Lombardy and Piedmont, which will host the three final stages.
«In my opinion, it's a fairly challenging Giro, at least on paper. There is a considerable difference in altitude, especially towards the end, while the first part is easier. There will be no stopwatch this time."
No time trial, why?
And this piques our curiosity. Why was the time trial removed? Is it a technical choice? Or is there more to it? Selleri immediately clarifies the issue.
"Doing a time trial isn't easy," Selleri explains. "We only have one Sunday, and fitting a time trial into the middle of a weekday isn't a given; it means longer road closures. Last year we were able to do it because we had five stages in Emilia-Romagna (there was a cycle path). Food Valley to be inaugurated, ed.) and somehow we managed. This time, however, we start from the Marche and there is a lot of North.
«And then you also have to consider the locations that host you, because in the end, there's no denying it, you have to take into account the budgets and who is providing the opportunity to bring the race. I would have also found two locations, one starting point and one finishing point, but they are 120 kilometers apart!
«I can therefore assure you that Marco Pavarini and I did not remove the time trial for technical reasons».
To the future
Selleri then also says that this could also be the last Giro under 23 of ExtraGiro. The call for applications issued by Federcycling in fact it is expiring, we are at the end of the second three-year period.
«We – says Selleri – we have the will to continue, But let's see how it goes. We can't even wait until the last minute, so in theory we'd already have the foundations for 2023."
«For us at ExtraGiro, cycling, especially youth cycling, is a mission. We always try to give our best. This is also why everything is very demanding, requiring energy and financial resources. And we always want to do more.
"We're also trying to do more in terms of media coverage. We're working on several ideas for the next Giro, including with RAI. Marco Pavarini He's working on it. Today, technology allows us to do many things, like a live stream of the last 30 kilometers, and this could be transformed into a live TV broadcast."
One thing is certain, ExtraGiro is working well, especially with the Giro d'Italia U23. It has regained a value, because this is the Giro d'Italia for young people, that had disappeared for a few years. An important, if not vital, value for the youth sector, and the results are visible: "If we look closely," Selleri concludes, " Covi, Battistella, Barons... they all passed through there."
