With the arrival of Cordiano Dagnoni driving the FCI, Knowing his past as a stayer, many hope that the specialty of motorcycling will have a revivalOnce upon a time, motorbike races filled the stands at the tracks, then they slowly disappeared and it is almost a miracle that they were kept alive. European Championship, played for the last time in Pordenone in 2019 and won by the German Burkart and our Martha CavalliLooking at the roll of honour one discovers that the specialty continues to have interpreters of a certain weight, just look at the victories of Viviani in 2013, the Danish Morkov the following year and, going back a little in time, the winner of the Tour Bradley Wiggins in 2003.
At Christmas it was packed
Who has linked his cycling history to the world of stayers is Bruno Vicino, currently on the management staff of theUAE Team Emirates, who, looking back on his past, does not hide much nostalgia: «It is a real shame that this heritage has been let go: I remember for example the fantastic Christmas days in Dortmund. On the day of the festival, lunch was served at the velodrome, and in the afternoon the champions of the specialty put on a show on the track in front of many thousands of spectators. It felt like we were at the stadium, there was so much cheering… In Italy it was a little-known specialty, yet we were among the strongest in the world."
The End of the Six Days
What is the reason for its decline?
There could be many reasons, certainly a certain abandonment of the track had a major influence and above all the sunset of the 6 Days, which in Europe filled the velodromes of all the main cities. I then I also believe that there has been a certain disinterest on the part of Eastern European countries, which have always had a lot of weight in our sports policy environment.
Does riding behind engines still make sense in training?
Certainly, very much. It is the best tool to prepare the agility rhythm. A wrong perception of the specialty, for example, leads to the belief that sprinters are the ones who stand out, instead it is ideal for long distance riders, because you usually go at 72-73 km per hour, your legs always whir at the same pace and in the same gear. It is ideal for example for those who prepare for time trials, or for those who are fast on the circuits.For example, thanks to the stayers, I had developed the habit of relaunching the action after the curves by sprinting from a seated position, maintaining the position and reducing the effort.
It's a two-way race
What does it take to stand out among the stayers?
The main factor, which must never be forgotten, is that the race is done by two people, one riding the motorbike and the other the bikeThere must be a good feeling between the two; a good rider without a good driver will never win. They are like two heads that have to think in unison. to stand out, understand when to accelerate, when to maintain the pace and so on.
Does training behind a motorcycle still make sense?
Of course… It's ideal for setting the pace in pedaling, for warming up and loosening up the muscles, before a time trial I always recommend it even to the guys on the team, even better than rollers. It's clear that even in training, a certain harmony between the two vehicles is necessary, especially because there are bumps on the road and, above all, cars, requiring maximum attention, but its usefulness is undeniable.
Plain and nothing fixed
Which routes are most suitable?
You have to look for the routes as flat as possible, precisely because what needs to be trained is the pedaling pace. A mistake What you shouldn't do is use fixed gear bikes for road training behind the wheels., which are great on the track but outdoors you always need to be able to change gear and above all brake.
The track is safer
With Dagnoni's arrival, what do you expect for your old love?
We are united by the same passion, the president knows well what a show this specialty can offer, I really hope that it will regain strength both in Italy and in Europe, let us always remember thatRiding on the track is much less dangerous than on the road so it can be a great attraction for kids and we know that the roar of engines is always appreciated…
