Luciano Rui has been involved in amateur cycling for 37 years and previously turned professional. As he says Wikipedia, also participated in the 1982 Tour de France, but this is just one of his merits. Those of us who have known him for thirty years could compile a much longer list. Therefore, when "Ciano" speaks, it's good to listen to him.
«Today's Italian cycling – he says – is a book to be rewrittenBut who is capable of doing it? And who benefits from it?
From Gregori to Bragato
Rui is the general manager of the Zalf Euromobil Fior and is 63 years old (in the opening he is with Lello Ferrara, who was also one of his riders, image photors.it). The starting point of the conversation is a reflection onInterview with Diego Bragato from recent daysAmong the many topics raised, there is the poor habit in our teams of working towards objectives with groups of athletesSomething that is usually done in the best European continentals and that in Italy it held sway until the Federation broke off relations with Antonio Fusi, who had inherited the method established by Claudio Gregori and perfected by Giosuè Zenoni. Names that will mean little to many by now, but which kept Italian cycling afloat in the years in which (not by chance) champions were still blossoming.
At that time, the national team prepared the riders, it didn't select them as Amadori has to do today. The technician identified a working group for each objective, took the boys on retreats and then on races around Europe. In August, when excessive activity in the clubs would have harmed the riders in terms of world championships, they always made two-week retreat in LivignoGenerations of riders have learned to work towards goals this way.
The system worked, didn't it?
Gregori had started. Now, however, one hundred thousand races are done in the blue jersey which are of little use.Zenoni and Fusi took 10-12 athletes and led them forward. In the year Basso won the world championship they went to Germany, to the Wallonie GP and to the Montpellier-BarcelonaBut perhaps it's not easy now with the athletes who run for foreign teams. Would the national team have them available? They used to all be here...
They say they're leaving because they don't have the same level of activity here.
Abroad, there are 7-8 stage races that are worth investing in, while it makes no sense to go to Belgium to participate in the kermesse. The problem is that in Italy there were once 8-9 stage races for under 23s, so the desire to go out didn't come to you.Maybe they won't invite you now, but that's because we're out of the loop, having preferred to stay here for years. We have to start over and slowly get into the swing of things..
The feeling when watching the Italian U23 teams today is that the work is often an end in itself.
For sure the comparison with an important team is missing and we end up working for ourselves.
In today's cycling, would you still be willing to give riders to the national team to prepare them for events?
The biggest teams have always worked in synergy with the national team. We knew that after the Giro d'Italia they would have unloaded, then they would have gone to high altitude, to race abroad and then straight to the world championship. If they had stayed with us, when they stay with us, we run for immediate results. I think the teams would be available, the blue shirt has its weight. If you believe in a project, you have to give the boy to the national team. Otherwise, get out! Indeed From Pretto I haven't seen him much since August and Moro he is fixed with the track group.
What do you think of the national team today?
Amadori is very good and the results of recent years prove him right, while before it was dry for a long time, perhaps because leaving the old system, it took time to settle inThere aren't many athletes to work with today, because they quickly graduate. And then, once they get there, they all become little princes. I always tell him: sometimes it's better to try and win among people of your own age, than to always get slapped by the older ones.We need to remain humble and be clear. Before, when the rider stayed for 3-4 years, we all had the opportunity to work better.
What about now?
Now they pass, but there are more who get lost. They got their professional license, but not a careerIs it possible that the best Italians in the Giro were still Nibali and Pozzovivo? Who do you see taking their place?
Do you want a name from us?
Yes, let's see.
For the Giros, Garofoli's name comes to mind...
He's a good rider and after he came back from surgery he went strongIf he moves up to the WorldTour now, we won't see him in the U23s, and he'll need a couple of years to emerge. But he's a good name. It has a particular character, but it's right that it is. Those who are flat on the bike are also flat in life. And competitiveness is part of the game.Instead, we've all become polite and end up settling for the system. A few arguments are sometimes a good thing. Once upon a time, there was time, now not anymore...
Bruttomesso goes to CT Friuli and then goes to Bahrain...
Ugly mess we raised him well. And if he already had a contract with Bahrain, couldn't he have stayed with us? Who knows, maybe Miholjevic said he wanted to follow him to the satellite team, but we weren't told this. When it came to signing Gatto to Gerolsteiner, we drove to Germany and ended up drinking a couple of nice beers. Same thing with Oss at Liquigas. Today, that wouldn't be possible. Today The prosecutors have an interest in letting them pass quickly, since they're not at risk. But if you go against them, they can even start a war against you. But this is how the human relationship ends. I repeat: in my opinion, cycling today is a book that needs to be rewrittenBut who is capable of doing it? And who benefits from it?
