The 2025 team Hen Ecotek Lucchini Colosio It stems from… a misunderstanding. Many media outlets have reported the team's return to the continental league, which in itself could have been a good sign, but His team manager Cesare Turchetti is keen to deny the rumour, not without a hint of irritation.
«We are out of the continental leagues – he says – We had the qualification until 2023, but then we realized that the costs were too high for very few real benefitsUltimately, we can run our business at a good level even without it. The problem is always related to costs. Here, we invest what we have without spending crazy amounts, hoping to attract investors, but there's little money in circulation in the industry, and there aren't many people who want to get involved, who still trust our world."
It's difficult to continue like this...
Of course, but kids need to learn that every step forward, every progress, must be earned through hard work and sacrifice. We make everything we can available, so much so that We had our first pre-season training camp in Calpe at the beginning of December, just as the great champions of the WorldTour teams were riding on the roads of the Costa BlancaWe'll be back in January to prepare for the first races of the season.
What schedule will you make?
Lots of 2.2 races and some 2.1 races along with the professional ones. Returning to the topic of our qualification, what good is it to me if then… At the races where we are invited, do I find myself having to cover all the expenses against professional, if not superior, teams that have paid for everything? These are the inequalities that make our business so complicated; we must act first and foremost at a regulatory level. When we go racing in France, they ask me for a 5.000 euro deposit, so it's really difficult to race…
And yet you're still here, investing, believing in young people...
I try to teach them what real cycling is, but it's not easy to get them to listen. Kids these days only care about watts and nutrition, but there's more to it than that. Sometimes I think I've become nothing more than their driver, yet technology isn't the only thing, having the latest bike or tracking your calories isn't enough; these are aspects of a much more complex universe. And I repeat, you have to first make do with what you have. For example, we make do when we're on retreat, so much so that my wife comes with me and cooks for the whole team.
Was the work in Calpe profitable?
Certainly, thanks also to the favorable climate, but in Spain I had proof of what I say. You do hill tests and see the guys comparing themselves, they just look at the numbers, how many watts I did, how many you did... What's the point if you don't have a real comparison, if you don't know what others are doing? So if the one who makes the most watts wins, we shouldn't even have races anymore... We copy the pros too much, but there's so much more. For me, cycling is still about sensations and imagination; it's not enough to just do your homework.
The team has changed profoundly compared to last year…
2024 wasn't a good year. I saw a lack of willpower and commitment in many athletes, and this was becoming a virus that was spreading. I want people hungry for results, but above all, with the desire to grow and succeed. We had offered some people the opportunity to redeem themselves, but they didn't take it, so we decided to change and invest in those who truly believe in it.I've heard so many excuses for poor performances, always blaming the technical materials, but the reality is that they were in the group to keep their salary, but you also have to earn that. I want motivated people.
Who are you mainly counting on?
We have many guys who, even from the first few minutes of training, are showing me that they have understood the message, starting with the confirmed Andrea de Marchi, Christian Calzaferri, Edward Gavazzi and Manuel FranzoniLorenzo arrives The fog who has many qualities, like Andrea too War which comes from the late Zalf and was a real obsession of mine. Then there's the Ukrainian Serhii Sydor who has many qualities still unexpressed and Andrea NockThey will be the driving forces behind the team. We also took Michael from Hopplà, who finished. waist.
What do you expect from the new season?
I'm quite optimistic, precisely because we're coming off a disappointing season. I see kids who want to emerge and this gives me confidence, rekindling the old fire. If they continue at this pace, I believe we can see some great victories. We've given them everything: each rider has two bikes each, is supported by a trainer and a nutritionist—in short, everything they need. Of course, luck is also needed, but the potential is there.
