Paolo Simon He (almost) got off his bike and got on his motorbike. The Venetian's story joins that of other riders who now "direct traffic" during the race. Paolo has in fact become one of the regulators, as other colleagues had done before him, from Allocchio a Velo, passing through the brief parenthesis of Gasparotto, now sports director at Bora-Hansgrohe.
Red hair, freckles and a shrill voice, the former road and track cyclist began this adventure in the family Rcs Sports officially at Strade Bianche.
Paolo, tell us how it went? And first of all, why you decided to stop cycling: you'd started on the track again...
I had agreements with the Chinese team (Tianyoude, where he had already played in the past, ed.), but things were not clear at all, especially regarding the calendar. And in fact, in Asia everything is still blocked. In China, practically everything is at a standstill. I had already invested a year in holding on and would have even done another, but then I did the math. This year I turn 30 and I can no longer afford the freedoms I had when I was 21 or 22. I'm not saying the dream is over, but almost...
So from the bike to the motorbike…
Yes, although I didn't actually go down all the way. They actually contacted me to be a tandem guide for the 2024 Paris Paralympics. I'll start the circuit in a few days. I don't have much experience yet, but I'll try to do it soon.
And how did the connection with RCS Sport come about?
They contacted me directly from the organization on the advice, I believe, of barbin, my former teammate. They are looking for regulators and two of the fundamental requirements to become one are: having been a rider and having a UCI card as a sport director. And I had a third-level one. A sports director must also know how to move with the car in motion. In fact, there had already been contact with RCS in December. I was supposed to make my debut atUAE Tour, but before leaving, the Covid swab came back positive, and I stayed home, even though I had absolutely no symptoms. So I started with the Strade Bianche, the Tirreno, and Sanremo.
A fiery debut at the Strade Bianche…
Yep, a real mess! Starting atUAE Tour would have been better, also considering the type of roads which were wider and less winding. The biggest difficulty was recognizing the various voices on the radio. But things already went decidedly better at Tirreno.
The regulator directs traffic, but can you tell us exactly what your role consists of?
We are an integral part of the organization and take care of safety during the race, the movement of cars, motorcycles, relay teams, team cars, photographers... We need a language that is both concise and clear at the same time. When you have to explain something you can't be overblown!
How do you move when running?
There are four regulators. One is in front of the breakaway, one behind, one in front of the group, and one behind the group. At least, this is in a standard, calm situation. If, however, the race heats up and there are many small groups, people go back and forth between one group and another. We make sure the team cars don't get in the way and act as a support point, and we see if there's a dispatcher or a police motorcycle that can "escort" that same group. We all rely on Velo and Allocchio.
There are some incredible mechanisms…
Exactly. But it's nice, and I get to stay in my element. The key, however, is this: if you see something that needs attention, do it. Make the decision. Don't wait to ask. If it can be solved, solve it immediately. Things can change in a matter of seconds on the run.
Do you have your own radio?
We talk to the motorcyclist through the headphones, then we listen to the management radio, which we can use to communicate with each other. And we can also listen to the race radio, and if there are any problems, we can intervene with them as well. What I've noticed is that everything is so dynamic on the race track that Even though we are many, paradoxically we are always few! I'd also say we're still in the running-in phase, which is why we swap positions often. It's important to become familiar with the group's various situations.
Paolo, you said you followed the Sanremo from your motorbike: how was that? And what differences did you notice between doing it on a bike?
It's easier on a motorbike! It's always fantastic. Even as a racer, you understand that racing is something different, but on a motorbike it's unique. You notice the insane speeds and it's amazing to see how everyone knows everything: every curve, every pothole, every climb.
Where were you positioned at Classicissima?
I rode behind the group until Cipressa. Then, after it broke down, I shuttled between small groups until Poggio. At that point, we rejoined the breakaway group to distance all the cars and motorcycles. They had to go ahead because in those moments, with the high speeds and the descent of Poggio, it's easy to get stuck. The goal was to clear the road as much as possible.
We hear you're really excited, Paolo!
It's great. The logistics of cycling, all the caravan's resources, have always fascinated me. You learn so much. You gain transversal skills across many aspects of the race. And yes: I'm happy!
From the perspective of a former rider, who among the athletes impressed you most?
I raced with champions like Boonen or Cancellara, but the ease of pedalling of pogacar It's scary. He's a cut above the rest. In today's cycling, where with that absurd pace 35 people climb the Cipressa hill when a few years ago there would have been three, making certain differences is incredible.
