VIGNOLA (MO) – They are no longer the note of color and internationality in the Italian races in which they participate. la AR Monex Pro Cycling Team it is an established reality that wants to continue to amaze on the wave of the effect Del Toro, the superstar they launched into the Olympus of cycling. All the athletes of the various categories of the Mexican team see in the climber of the UAE Team Emirates XRG a true source of inspiration.
The latest talent to be brought out and sent to the threshold of the WorldTour is José Said Cisneros, born in 2007 moved to the Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team this year already putting themselves on display. With women and men ranging from students to U23s, Monex has created a supply chain with a well-structured program that has been at the forefront practically forever in the Republic of San Marino.
During the Gran Premio Fioritura in Vignola – one of the classics of the Italian youth scene – the Mexican team was present with junior and student women (photo by Stefano Ballandi in the opening). It was in this category (known abroad as U17) that Monex achieved its first overall victory in Europe. This small but great event was an assist in getting to know some of their performers better.
In the sign of Isaac
The ceremony set up by US Formiginese leaves nothing to chance. On the top step of the podium of the competition reserved for students is Carlos Valdovinos Borbon and the Mexican anthem expands clearly from the DJ's speakers. Her face shows a mixture of happiness and disbelief, while her sports director, Uriel Clara Esparza, expresses emotion. She can barely hold back the tears as she joins her boyfriend on the podium to collect the rest of the awards. The first victory in Europe, even though it is a 50km race, has a really special flavour..
For the young Carlos – born on April 25, 2010 and who comes from Monterrey, in the north of the country about 150 kilometers from Texas and Laredo, where another contemporary talent was born such as Paul Magnier – it doesn't seem real to have all that attention. He won solo by attacking just after half the race, arriving with a twenty-second advantage, protected by his teammates. For a moment he felt like Isaac Del Toro, his idol and that of an entire nation.
“I’m telling the truth,” Valdovinos tells us, “it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced in my life. This victory represents everything to me, my efforts and the sacrifices I paid to leave my country and come here.I'm happy to have won so early in the season because I knew that my teammates and I could do it, but it was still a surprise.
«For me and for the entire Mexican movement – he continues – Del Toro It is the greatest source of inspiration in cyclingIt is not only the fundamental foundation of Mexican cycling, but also the driving force that leads us to explore and connect with Italy, a cradle of world cycling. There is nothing that makes me happier than being able to follow his example. and perhaps retrace part of his already glorious footsteps."
A bridge between Mexico, Italy, and San Marino
Already more than twenty years ago the then Mexican cycling federation, also taking advantage of Nancy Contreras' world gold medal in the speed track, had attempted a project for their U23s bringing them to Parma to make them grow, but everything failed in a short time without producing the desired results.
Now, the words of a sixteen-year-old like Valdovinos may seem like a spirit of emulation towards the greatest champions, but in reality for all the people involved in Monex it is something more visceral. Theirs is a program that is following a certain path as he explained to us Alejandro Rodriguez, one of the founders and currently team manager of the entire company.
«We have been very passionate about cycling for many years – he explains – and We started this project in 2015 with a MTB team. After that we found some sponsors who were passionate about road cycling and in 2021 we arrived in San Marino with a certain Isaac Del Toro (he says smiling, ed.) He was one of the many boys who started doing youth activities among the juniors. Mexico is a country of 134 million inhabitants and Little by little we understood that we could have someone who knew how to manage our team within Italian cycling.
«We are developing – continues Rodriguez – our program with kids and their families who love cycling. Clearly the specific weight that it now has Del Toro within world cycling and in general he is making a difference for us. He has become a hero and all our athletes want to be like him. We really like this and Of course we are very proud of our boys. We are very happy to be part of Italian cycling."
Investments and school
The first name of the team was “AR Elite” where A and R stand for “alto rendimiento”, then Monex, a Mexican financial holding company founded in 1985, took over as the main sponsor (one of the largest in the world) specializing in international transactions with an annual volume of around $200 billion. With a partner like this, many aspects become easier.
The first, according to Alejandro Rodriguez, is linked to the personal growth of athletes. Shortly before the pandemic broke out in 2021, the sports club had made agreements that are still valid today with Mexican schools and universities to allow their students to study onlineSince they now live in San Marino and Romagna, these young people are asked to learn Italian and, secondarily, English to be ready should they need to move to a professional team, given that it is considered the universal language of cycling.
In any case, for each of them, starting with the male and female students, this is a life education which will be useful to him even if they don't make a career out of cycling.
"Our sponsors," Rodriguez concludes, "follow us closely and are pleased with our overall development in the various categories, including cycling and schools. Mexico needs heroes and this kind of young peopleWe are not the country of those evil people who have ruined our reputation and image abroad."
The Perez Cuapio graft
First di Del Toro, there were two other Mexicans who were the idols of their generation. Raul Alcala from Monterrey (the same city as his pupil Valdovinos), capable of winning more than 30 races, including two stages at the Tour de France, two at the Dauphiné and the Clasica de San Sebastian at the turn of the 90s. Then Starting in 2000 and lasting for about ten years, Italy fell in love with the charm and boldness of Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio, a climber who used to push gears uphill and was discovered by Bruno Reverberi in the then Panaria.
Few successes, but good ones: the general at the Giro del Trentino and above all three stages at the Giro d'Italia, in addition to the “gpm” classification in the 2002 edition. He too had settled in so well with us that he remained to live near Trento and Now Julio Alberto, less than a month ago, has become the sporting director of the Monex junior and U23 women's team..
«Our country – Perez Cuapio tells us – is experiencing a historic moment for cycling. All thanks to the explosion of Del Toro, who thanks to his exploits was able to get our cycling federation out of administration after many yearsHe is a driving force of drive and motivation, so much so that our girls aspire to become like his girlfriend Romina Hinojosa, a pro for Lotto Intermarché Ladies who graduated from Monex.
"I gladly accepted this role," he concludes, "which almost becomes a national selector for the Nations Cup competitions, as happened for the juniors at the Piccolo Trofeo Binda. I remain a member of Monex, so I'll be the real coach at the World Championships, but the collaboration is very close. We have a great group of girls who are improving race after race and we are happy. It's nice to be able to contribute and be important to young Mexicans."
