When you think of the Salice Occhiali brand and cycling our thoughts immediately go to the team Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli. The one just started is in fact the sixth year of collaboration between the company led by Anna Salice and Gianni Savio's teamThis is a partnership that has managed to consolidate itself over the years.
However, in 2022 they will be different teams who will be able to count on the quality of Salice branded helmets and glasses. We can mention the team Biesse Carrera , Iseo Carnovali Rime SiasIn both cases these are Continental formations. Also significant is the presence in the junior category with the teams Assali Stefen – Omap, Energy Team, Fratelli Giorgi and Unipol Glass. Always among the Juniors we find also a female formation. It is the Breganze Cycling Club 96 – Team Wilier Chiara Pierobon led by former professional Davide Casarotto.
The choice of teams
To find out what criteria guide the decision to sponsor one team rather than another, we had a chat with Paolo Tiraboschi who personally handles relations with the teams for Salice Occhiali.
"For over 35 years," Tiraboschi begins, "I've been going to races of all categories. I enjoy doing it, and it allows me to have direct contact with the teams. At the beginning of each season I receive several sponsorship requests, but in the end I'm the one who chooses the teams that will be able to use our products."
But what are the factors that guide team selection? Paolo Tiraboschi tells us.
"A An important aspect is certainly represented by the value of the team and the athletes that compose it. For me, however, it is equally important to see how the team works and what image it projects to the outside world. It is essential that Salice helmets and glasses are worn by athletes and teams that convey an image of professionalism and seriousness, regardless of the category they belong to."
The best for everyone
Once the teams to sponsor have been chosen, the second step is represented by the choice of products to supply to the teamsHow do you approach a youth team? Do you let the team choose the helmet and goggle models they'll use during the season?
«First of all – continues Tiraboschi – a premise must be made. The Salice catalogue is composed only of top-of-the-range helmets and glassesThe choice therefore falls on high-quality products. At first we listen to the requests of the individual teams, but then We are the ones who choose which helmet and which glasses each individual team will wearThe ultimate goal is to give visibility to our entire catalog through all the sponsored teams."
Feedback from the youngest
Speaking with Paolo Tiraboschi, we discovered with pleasant surprise how young cyclists are increasingly better prepared.
«When choosing glasses – explains Tiraboschi – aesthetics still have an important weight, especially in recent years With the return of large-lens glasses, I'd like to emphasize that I'm increasingly finding myself working with technically skilled professionals who can provide very useful information to improve our products.
«More and more often it happens to me that to compare myself with Anna Salice precisely on the feedback received from still young athletes. Ultimately, this doesn't surprise me if you consider that these are often guys who have been racing for several years and have therefore accumulated enough experience to be able to give a technical opinion."
