The analysis that compared cycling and athletics, the recipes that led the "queen of sports" to stand out in the Italian sporting panorama and can be applied to the world of two wheels, have caused a lot of noise in the sleepy cycling environment. No one denies anymore that Italian cycling is going through a dark period, certainly not up to its tradition, but the establishment is struggling to update itself and sees the "cure" proposals as a nuisance, a disturbance to the normal routine. Among these there is certainly not Alessandro Vanotti.
Historic helper of Vincenzo Nibali in many of his enterprises, Vanotti today has launched its own project dedicated to youth cycling which seems to reflect quite faithfully those dictates that have been followed in athletics, bringing it back into fashion after many seasons of absolute zero. His ideas, after reading the article, take inspiration from the "thesis", judging the tricolour victory of Filippo Conca like a negative moment.
«I don't think so, I actually think it was a breath of fresh air, the award to a project, that of Swat Club, which should only be encouraged because it offers something new. It's a cycling seen by young people, which takes into account a world that is profoundly changing.in complete evolution, with a new mentality, a different way of experiencing cycling, putting oneself competitively at stake in a different wayIt's preparation applied to a goal, and why shouldn't this new way of looking at cycling be accepted? It's true, we're at a low point, we have to roll up our sleeves, knowing that we won't win for many seasons, but we must invest in the future.
Why then is there so much reluctance towards new ideas?
Because we remain prey to old ideas and arguments that lead nowhere, like the one between the FCI and the Lega. Let's look forward, let's look at ourselves, the institutions instead of arguing should help innovative structures like the Swatt Club and mine tooBecause there's a cultural fabric that needs to be rebuilt. I went to the sponsors with my youth project, Santini First and foremost, by pointing out that they won't find victories with me, they won't find media headlines, but they will find professionalism, dedication, and above all, hard work that will bear fruit. And these fruits won't just be professional riders, because in this environment only those who truly succeed emerge—one in a thousand, as the song goes. But beyond that, we will shape many men who will then become the corporate leaders of tomorrow, because sport is a school of life. We will provide a future, in cycling and beyond.
Do companies accept and adapt?
If you know the project is valid, that it will bring results in cycling and beyond, yes. But you need to be calm, and above all, not chase after easy enthusiasm. Above all, you need to teach what cycling is, what lies behind a victory. On a blank sheet of paper, I created a youth project like the athletics one. I built the team myself the way I wanted it, without interference. I created the staff with the people I wanted. There are 15 of us, and in the end, decisions are made collectively. There's no one absolute leader, and above all, we all get involved, but we all move around; it's not always the same people who look after the kids. But I already know it's a long-term project; it takes at least 10 years to see results.
What should we teach children?
We need to make them understand the sense of belonging to the team. The spirit of sacrifice. Above all, that there are so many things to learn before going fast on the bike. Being a team means working 7 days a week. Getting up at 5 in the morning to load the van for the race.
The mistake many people probably make in youth cycling is to immediately chase results to please sponsors. This was also done 10 years ago in athletics, and it turned out that those kids who won, perhaps as juniors or under-23s, then disappeared. How do you help them reach the highest levels, without losing them?
It's a cultural issue. It's about supporting a human project, even before a sporting one. You won't find that famous one in a thousand if there aren't the "thousand" who are given the opportunity to grow, to become men. But if you know that among them there will be, perhaps, a champion, there will be others who will go to work in your or other companies because they will have learned something important. Let's start with this. From the spirit, the goal, the dedication for the jersey, the spirit of sacrifice, the ethics. We need to find the right balance, and we will train these guys. There will be a Plan B for them if they don't make the pro ranks.
But do you think there is enough patience in the industry?
I don't know, we're certainly in an era where youth cycling is on the verge of extinction; no one sponsors it anymore. So there has to be a plan behind it. Knowing we're working in a constantly evolving world. And let's get rid of too much stress; there's much more of it than when I was racing. They're kids, enough with all this pressure, even from their parents. It's obvious that I raise my kids to achieve results. Performance. But slowly, because by working hard, things come.We need to be smarter, integrate cycling with simplicity, realize (as the new sports reform I support has done) that the world of sport is a profession and can no longer rely on volunteers.
Do you also think there's a problem with keeping technicians updated compared to what's emerging from abroad?
Yes, that's why we need a new generation, more ready to embrace the momentum. We have a huge generation gap, even on a technical level. For too many years, we've been pushing forward with people from previous generations, but no one has followed suit. Now we're paying the price. With me, everyone's young and constantly updating their skills. Because cycling is changing visibly. Even multi-discipline, for example, is a good thing if you know how to do it, but making kids run all the time, today in cyclocross, tomorrow in mountain biking, the day after tomorrow on the road is not always good, you can't run all the timeLet's use judgment. We must respect musculoskeletal growth and development—we're talking about kids.
Will we have to wait to relive your times?
Certainly, but if we know how to do it, Italian cycling will return to what it wasBut it's time to act, now, working in depth. Today the command is pogacar and Van der PoelWe're watching. Let's make sure they're watching us tomorrow, because we can't forget what cycling is, what it has given to our country. But we have to get moving, now...
