The Mastromarco-Vincit project has undergone an important change starting from this season, In fact, once the historic under 23 team closed, the team started again with the juniorsThis is a significant development, the result of a changing cycling landscape that has put several youth teams on the line. Many clubs have closed their doors, others will do so by the end of 2025. La Mastromarco he had the strength to find a new balance and start again, but it wasn't easyThe junior category has now become central to the development and human and sporting growth of young people. Taking measurements is not easy, and the first few months for Gabriele Balducci, the team's sports director (in the opening Instagram photo), were fundamental to understand how to move and how to manage different aspects.
«It's a very beautiful category, from my point of view – Balducci himself tells us – but they want to make us believe it is better than it isThe realities we encounter are particularly beautiful and stimulating, but cycling is something else. Even the boys are not finished athletesIn fact, both technically and physically we are not at the level they want us to believe. A large portion of the group needs to growThere are some guys who are already mature, but not up to the task of tackling the WorldTour."
A consideration that comes from where?
Professional cycling requires significant physical and mental requirements. You can't make a 17 or 18 year old boy who has won three or four national or regional races believe that he is ready for a I have to team up. I have experience in a WorldTour team, and this year I've been working with Astana's performance staff.
Is it feasible to think about making the jump from junior to WorldTour?
Just because they want us to believe so. The movement is going in that direction, but that doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.In my opinion, WorldTour teams need to be very patient if they want to take this path. But many don't wait and after two years you find some guys who stop. or they have to start over.
What fascinated you about this category then?
I enjoy dealing with kids who are growing up, many of them are intelligent and smart. They ask interesting questions that lead to debate and discussion, on training, running method, and many other aspects. It's a category where riders are in their prime; there's a huge gap. Physically, you see some well-developed boys and others who are still immature..
In short, judging whether a rider is ready or not becomes very difficult…
Virtually impossible. It's not a given that the most emancipated boy will later become a rider.. Look Conca, Gaffuri and other guys who seemed to be finished, are now reaping excellent results.
How was it for you to set up the work and approach the junior category?
Mastromarco was founded as a junior club; Carlo Franceschi had already worked in this category. It was easier back then, now there are many things and other aspects to consider that didn't concern us before.We focused on taking on first-year juniors and focused on the approach and finding a working method that works. Then luckily we have neighbors both Vincenzo Nibali that Alberto Bettiol.
What aspect did you have the most difficulty with?
School, which clearly takes priority over everything else. Juggling cycling and school isn't easy; I had to juggle the school calendars and find a balance between my various commitments.
Hours of training per week?
There were times when we barely did 11 hours in five days, especially in the winter. Others, like now in the summer, where I put in a little more training. However, we never went above 18 hours per weekSome kids ask to train more and put in the same amount of hours on the bike as an under-23, but for me that's not an option. I prefer to leave room for growth for the future. It's difficult to make them understand because with the various tools available they see what others are doing. Of course I don't understand where they find the time to train all those hours.
Have you done any mountain retreats?
No, we don't do any at the moment. If a family comes to us saying they are going on holiday to the mountains then I arrange the program for the athlete, but we don't do high altitude retreats.
How did you form the team?
Lots of first years and a few second years, but few. At the moment we have eight athletes, it is not to be excluded that next year we will have ten.We focused on regional and national competitions, with some appearances in international competitions. I've always been of the opinion that the calendar is made by the kids, so if they are tired or if they don't feel fit there is no point in taking them to certain appointments. From this point of view I want to thank all the organizers because they always invited us to all the competitions.
Do you run every Sunday?
No, absolutely no. We worked on finding a balance between racing and recoveryNow we're doing the last races and then from July 27th we'll take a two-week break before starting again for the season finale.
Material?
We are super stocked. We have designer clothing Q36.5, he gives us the bicycles Cannondale, helmet and glasses are Rudy Project.
How do you relate to the student category?
I only watch a few races, but I don't interfere in other people's work. It's not easy to talk to kids because as soon as someone gets a couple of results they already have many teams and some agents around them.
Do you have much more to do with your parents now?
Of course. Some of the kids are minors and don't have a car and so the parent becomes a central figure, part of the journeySome jobs are better, others worse, but that's normal. When a boy wins it is not easy for them to have so much attention around their son, there are also those who make films that don't exist.
