Let's start from the end of the speech, while all around the sun caresses the bumps of the Victoria Park and the hum of the highway is a barely audible background noise (the opening photo is by Annalisa Flori). The Roubaix-style road is reminiscent of a road bike, and some kids are jumping in the mountain bike area. A couple of freeriders are explaining how to place a foothold at the exit of the curve.
Physical education hour
Inside the Vittoria House instead, Loredana Loi brings up the topic anticipating the question that had arisen spontaneously upon entering the park.
«Inside the Academy – says the Managing Director of Vittoria Park – schools could also arriveWe have numerous requests from those in this catchment area, but also from slightly further away areas, to bring their children here. Instead of doing the traditional hour and a half of physical education at school, they asked to do it inside our park. So we are offering packages where we will have the entrance, the instructor, but also the possibility of having the bicycle that will be provided by some of our partners».
Cycling in schools has always been a mirage which can now materialize in this corner of the Bergamo province, adding to the other (few) places that have found the way by following different paths.
Five hectares of slopes
Victoria Park, an area of 50.000 square meters next to the Vittoria factory, just outside the Capriate exit. In some ways, arriving there without having ever seen it, It makes you think of the world of Teletubbies, with the Vittoria House covered in green grass, under a stretch of asphalt track.
«In 5 hectares of land – explains Alberto Arnoldi, Bike Park Supervisor – we have tried to build and reproduce all the cycling disciplines in a 360 degree way. For the more didactic part and for people who want to approach the world of cycling, we have a mountain bike section divided into three difficulty levels, easy, medium and difficult. All these areas are divided and structured to ensure that the person gradually approaches the difficulties of the park..
«And for you who love road cycling – he smiles – we have an asphalt ring of about a kilometre, along which we have reproduced the terrain of the three great cycling classics: the Tour of Flanders, the Paris-Roubaix and the Strade Bianche».
As a corollary to free pedaling, he explains, Vittoria Academy was born, dedicated to the world of children and adults. Both have a common approach educational progression and growth in the various disciplines.
The Victory House
Vittoria House brings to mind parents walking their children or a well-deserved post-workout beer. The decor is modern, with wood and glass that integrate very well with the surrounding greenery.
«The structure is divided into two parts – explains Alex Cavalleri, Workshop Manager of Victoria Park – in one room there is the bar area and inside also a small shop area where we sell Vittoria productsIn the second room there is an area dedicated to the business world, therefore an auditorium for planning any type of event, conference or show.
«Among the various services there is the possibility of renting different types of bikes made available by various brands who wish to test their models even before the official launch. All guests entering Vittoria Park will have a technical reference for small maintenance, small setups and technical advice on making the most of your bicycle."
Everything with one app
Vittoria Park, Cavalleri points out, is a fully digital 2.0 structure, which does not require the use of cashEach guest will need to download the Vittoria Park app, register with their own account, and purchase the two different types of tickets. On the one hand, the free one as visitors, which will allow him to walk along the pedestrian paths and enter Vittoria House. On the other side, the ticket for the cyclist, who can choose a daily or half-day entry.
«For the future we are organizing some two-hour training session packages – he explains – and also the possibility of a season ticket for our most frequent guests. You can also rent bicycles through the Vittoria Park app. and all personal protective equipment."
The current rates are 48 euros for a day pass and 24 euros for a half-day pass.
Three different levels
Loredana Calò, as mentioned, is the Managing Director of Vittoria Park and explains that the structure was born as a project to respond to Vittoria's needs to have a testing area and to meet the needs of the public.
«The whole park – he explains – has been developed on three different levels, both for the approach to the consumer and for the testing of our tyres, because this allows us to stress the use of tires. It's a very important project because It is based on three strategic fronts which are precisely the whole area of fun and learning and well-being, because we want to respond to a segment of consumers who seek well-being and self-improvement. We also have a branding aspect, an opportunity for both Vittoria and the companies that are with us in various partnerships, to showcase products, show and test their products both internally on the park's slopes and with the consumer himself.
«A large open-air testing laboratory – he concludes – which It will also be enriched with internal tests next year thanks to Vittoria Labs. So let's say it's a strategic asset for the entire category. We want to become a hub for integrating all knowledge and skills, to develop new projects, collect data and feedback from our consumers or simply to organize events."
