The Gran Premio Liberazione is back, and that's already news. It's been absent from the calendar since 2018 (Fedeli wins, opening photo). the Roman classic reserved for under 23s finds its place in the calendar thanks to the Team Bike Terenzi, which inherited the legacy of the legendary Eugenio Bomboni's Primavera Cycling team. In the immediate post-war period, the historic journalist of L'Unità created a cycling event for amateurs in the centre of Rome, which quickly became the main event of the season for the category, World Championships or Olympics aside. Through its streets and above all its circuit designed around the Baths of Caracalla Many cycling champions have passed through. Some have won, others have suffered their first disappointments, still others have begun to explore what would become their world.
Bringing the Grand Prix back to life is Claudio Terenzi, 51, owner of one of the largest and most active cycling clubs in the capital, with organizational experience borrowed above all from the Gran Fondos and not only in the region. The Roman race will be the first approach to top-level road cycling and it is above all the fruit of Terenzi's own memories.
«Two in particular – he says – the first dates back to 1977, the edition won by the British Alex Downs and I was a child completely fascinated by the different colors and languages of riders arriving from all over the world. The second is dated 1985, when the Liberation ran to help Luigi Orlandi, who was beaten by a certain Gianni Bugno, with whom we have become great friends over time, so much so that will be the testimonial of the rebirth editionWhen I proposed it to him, he said: “What an honor!” He was really happy, and for someone who has won two “real” World Cups It's the demonstration of how much that race really matters in the life of a cyclist».
Starting over in such an organizationally challenging year marks a bit of a countertrend...
Actually the commitment is huge and forces us to keep every aspect under control, but we are confident, so much so that we thought of also arrange an appointment for students and juniors, so as to give incentive to even the youngest to participate before the most important test, remaining then to witness the exploits of the older ones. Clearly we will have to adapt everything to the health situation existing at the moment.
Will it be an event in line with the Liberazione tradition, which brought both Italian and foreign teams to the streets of Rome?
The goal is that, to restore the Grand Prix to the glories that had distinguished it, it was not called the "Spring World Cup" for nothing. The problem is linked to travel and connections between the various nations. We have so far received requests to participate from foreign companies and perhaps this year we will keep the participation formula linked to the clubs, but as soon as the situation calms down, we will return to tradition.
What memories do you have of Bomboni?
I met him in his last years of activity, he still had a fighting spirit despite his yearsBomboni has had the merit of nurturing an event that has never stopped growing over time, becoming an unmissable event for Rome. He was certainly a very original character who lived off cycling..
Is it difficult to organize an event like Liberazione?
Everyone tells me yes, we are already realizing that such an organizational machine requires an almost daily commitment within two months of its organization, which is growing exponentially. I must say, however, that our experience gained from the Gran Fondos helps us. Let me give you an example to explain: in 2018, we organized the Gran Fondo Zenato in Peschiera del Garda. We passed through 18 municipalities and 2 provinces, so we had to coordinate with a multitude of local authorities and those responsible for managing the route. Here we have to manage a 6 kilometer circuit, always the same, and we have to deal with few contacts who already know what it's about.
So the path remains the same as in the past?
Yes, on this occasion and considering that we only started getting down to business in January. But for the future we have many ideas and we are thinking about an expansion, considering where we are, to further enhance the scenic context, the most beautiful in the world.
How long will it take to return the Gran Premio Liberazione to being the Spring World Championship?
I plan to do it in 3 years.
