Mastro Della Vedova, prophet of Piedmontese cycling

It's the golden age of Piedmontese cycling. In recent months, the seals of the talents of this region have been pouring in, in which the star of Filippo Ganna shines, the driving force of the movement together with Elisa Longo Borghini among the women. Behind the two aces who have been grinding out successes for a few seasons now, have arrived Matteo Sobrero's paws, to the first overall Italian title in the Faenza time trial and those of Francesca Barale, daughter of Florido, capable of wearing the second Italian champion jersey in the space of seven months among the juniors. After last year's road test, here's the one in the race against the clock at the end of June.

To let us tell you some background information, We asked someone who knows about Piedmontese talents like Marco Della Vedova, a former pro who moved up to the teamHe was the one who shaped some of the above-mentioned champions. We caught up with him while he was at work with Rcs Sports to study the route of two autumn classics such as the Milan-Turin and the Giro del Piemonte.

Marco, what do you think of these champions from your country that you've watched grow up since they were kids?

I'm very happy because really I followed them closely in their growth, except for Elisa Longo Borghini, with whom I had only done a few tests when she was a rookie. However, I also saw her speeding by in front of my house many times since she was little, because We are originally from two neighboring towns: I am from Mergozzo and she is from Ornavasso, with only the Toce River separating us.

Is there a specific outcome you care about?

to Sobrero, because he is one of the few riders for whom I think I put a little of my ownThe various Felline, Alafaci, Ganna and Piccolo are all riders who they already had a certain pedigree, so it was easier to make them go slow than fast. Sobrero, on the other hand, arrived without any great exploits among the students, so we took it almost on a bet through a sponsor friend of mine, Donini, partly also because dad made wine. 

And then what?

He grew up and I immediately put the time trial in his head because I saw that he was going fast uphill. During his first year as a junior, In the Crono Sbirro, in Biella, he had done a sensational performance, arriving 20" behind Ganna, who wasn't in top form at the time. But it was a race that gave us confidence to continue on this path. Also because Before leaving, the time trial bike wasn't right, so I gave him a spare one I had. and that Felline had used in the past. 

How did you create this tricolour jersey?

Matteo grew up with Ganna and the like in front of him, so Being a 60 kilo rider as a junior he struggled a bit, but he always believed in itSo much so that in his second year he won the Giro del Veneto with a time trial.

Is there room for it to grow further?

Time trial is not 100 percent his specialty, though. if the path is as bumpy as that of the Italians, it suits him. Then he's very good at riding the bike, a real tightrope walker: he throws himself into it and knows what he's doing. It's obvious that Ganna, being 90 meters tall, has a harder time, even if He also improved a lot in his control of the vehicle.

Do you still follow Filippo closely?

Now we see each other a little less, also because He's based in Switzerland and nowadays riders spend very little time at home.But when he's here, we always bump into each other and exchange a few words. We're in touch, not daily like when he was a junior, but our relationship is still excellent.

How do you see it from an Olympic perspective?

I am convinced that he has some excellent chances, both in the time trial and in the pursuitOn the track he has teammates who are not exactly up to his level, but I think that would difficult to find on a global scale given the level it has reachedBut all they need to do is give them those four right substitutions and they can all bring home something exceptional. I know that coach Marco Villa is motivating them to the max and that the lads believe in it, so we can hope for a lot.

And on the road?

We must not be influenced by the result in Faenza: when he gets slapped, Philip gives a harder oneHe's always done it, even as a junior, and we saw it again this year at the Giro d'Italia, where, after taking two beatings in the preparation races, he handed out two to the others when it mattered most in the Corsa Rosa. The defeat in the Italian championship will be a stimulus for the Olympics. Obviously it's not the course that's made for him, but he'll have a go. If it had been a completely flat course, he would have been the big favourite, but Pippo is 100 percent a "bad guy" and goes uphill like a train: already as a junior he was flying.

Where can it still improve?

The next step, after the Olympics, for me is to aiming for the Milan-Sanremo and the Belgian classics to grow furtherHe's on the right team and has five or six years ahead of him in which he can compete in classics or even short, not-too-tough stage races, perhaps leaving time trial work aside for a while.

Even among women, Piedmontese is spoken a lot…

I don't know Elisa Balsamo very well, but we hope she makes us dream of Tokyo. Meanwhile, thanks also to the dad I hear from every day, I follow Francesca Barale closelyShe's a very serious eighteen-year-old, who's grown step by step, but above all, she has an incredible passion. When you have this desire to work hard and reach the top, you can truly achieve great things, and I'd bet on her. I always tell my kids: if you give 100 to the bike, you get 100 back.The “Baralina” is like this and has a bright future ahead because it is strong on all terrains, let's say that the DNA helps given that its father and grandfather were racers. She could take over from Elisa Longo BorghiniIn the meantime, however, let's enjoy this golden moment for Piedmontese cycling and for Verbano Cusio Ossola.