Lots of escapes and placings. This is Dad Pirrone's Mendelspeck.

Escape, visibility and growth. Three nouns that represent the mantra of Team Mendelspeck during the race, He arrived in the world of UCI continental cycling this year after many years in the youth sector with great results.

Al Giro d'Italia Donne we got to know each other better the South Tyrolean team, which stood out for always going on the attack in the stages where it was possibleBut it wasn't limited to the Giro d'Italia. They had already made themselves seen at the Italian championship and then they continued with this trend recently also at Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées, where they achieved good placings in the four stages.

With theirs team manager and sports director Renato Pirrone – father of Elena, raised in Mendelspeck with which she won national, European and world titles – we wanted to take stock of the mid-season, in anticipation of the finale and the next one.

Renato, how has it gone so far?

For being in our first year with a UCI license I would say we are very happy.It wasn't anything new to me. I had a brief experience with Astana Women's cyclings in 2019 when Elena was there before she moved to Valcar midway through the year. Getting back to us, We had to get used to it at the beginning, to understand how to race, especially in international races. In the meantime, we've gained experience and performed well in many races. We've competed in three stage races. Besides the Giro and the Pyrenees, we raced in the Czech Republic at the Gracia Orlovà. We've competed in other races in France, as well as in Italy, including international and open races.

How did you rediscover women's cycling as a manager after a few years?

Totally changed. It has grown exponentiallyAt the time, the WorldTour didn't exist yet, even though it was already being talked about a lot. Before, even the most renowned teams would scout girls from all over the world to earn points and receive invitations to race. Now, however, many teams already know they have the right to participate in the races. The calendar has doubled, and I think it will grow even further in 2023. The bar has been raised a lot, but it can't be raised forever.How long can the WorldTour afford it?

Just explain it to us…

I mean, not all top-flight teams can have a structure that's suited to the schedule. Now with about fifteen athletes and their staff, they sometimes struggle to do double dutyImagine a continental team like ours. Next year, more teams will join the WT, and if they want to expand their rosters, including those who are progressing to junior level, there's not much left for us to do in a few years. We need to think of something more gradual.

Going back to the Giro Donne, how was it?

We did it above our expectations. The goal was to get to Padua and we did it by finishing with all six of our athletes. We made ourselves known by breaking away. In the young riders' classification, we achieved a satisfying seventh place with Angela Oro, while in the special Italian classification (the blue jersey, ed.) Eva Maria Gatscher finished ninth out of the forty participants. These are the results we need to look at right now. They need to be starting points..

What kind of team is yours?

We only have nine athletes. We're quite small and young. We favor fast races and don't have any pure sprinters. Our team is designed to help the girls mature and then maybe one day send them to stronger and more equipped teams.We would like to become a development training program, striving to achieve results over time but above all to help others discover our talents.

You mentioned two girls first, but others stood out as well.

Oro is a twenty-year-old climber in her first real elite season who is improving. Gatscher comes from motocross and therefore on a tactical level he has to learn everything, but he is very strongHe proved it at the Giro and even more so in the Pyrenees on the summit finish of the Col du Soulor with its many climbs and the following day in Lourdes. I always send them piss runaway even against his will, because now it's better to be seen for fifty kilometers than to finish twentieth in a sprint. Missiaggia also always went on the attack at the Giro. Sooner or later an escape can succeedCanvelli must decide whether to continue more seriously or not; he has the potential and experience to do so. But she is important because she knows how to work as a team with all her other teammates.It unites them. And it's an aspect that's very important in a team.

You've made a significant leap forward compared to the past. Why?

We were already in the elite category last year, but some people were asking us why we didn't get the continental license. Some of our girls were ready to take a step forward, we've signed others, and we'll sign others for 2023, when I'd like to have more choice among the athletes. Ultimately, we received good feedback from industry insiders and other teams. They recognized our professionalism.We try to do our best within our financial means. The sponsors themselves are also happy with the coverage we get on social media or through live coverage of the Giro stages. We have received requests from athletes from Australia and the USA to come and run with us to discover the European races. It means that something has moved and we would be very happy to have foreigners on the team.

Next goals?

For 2023, we'll increase the budget a little, further develop the girls who will stay with us, and hire a sprinter. For this year, however, I would be satisfied with a victory in an open race., whether overall or category. We only came close to it with Oro (third elite at Arcade, ed.). Let's say I'd like us to become more consistent, finishing whenever we can. I am confident for the near future.