Eros Capecchi has returned home, in family nursery, where he works and in the meantime thinks about cycling. In the last few days he was on retreat with the boys of the Umbrian Regional Committee, of which he is a citizen. The heat in central Italy is making itself felt, and when we point out that his region is on the "red flag," he responds: "Now I understand why I feel all this heat," he laughs. "I don't pay much attention to the weather. It's not like you can do anything about whether it's hot or not."
Work is progressing and the plants are doing well; they don't seem to be suffering too much from the heat either. "We have plenty of water," he says. Capecchi the Monte Doglio dam has excellent levels and there shouldn't be any problems. Then in our nursery we have many ground crops, which require less care and water. Some potted plants dry out, but that's normal."
His boys
Capecchi speaks willingly, and the phone call becomes an opportunity to discuss many cycling-related topics. The passion for cycling is great, and that of cultivating new talents from the Umbrian cycling scene is even greater..
«I really enjoy working with the guys – confirms the former professional – you see the improvements, they listen to you. There are always those who do things their own way, but that's normal.Once he hits the wall, he goes back. It's part of growing up and being a teenager. This experience, born as a game, is satisfyingI follow the kids from when they are 12 until they are 18, I see them grow and I follow them in every category."
What method do you use with them?
There isn't a specific one. I listen to them, hang out with them, and try to understand. You have to earn their trust so that they open up and talk to you about their problems and concerns.I can blend in with them, always maintaining clear boundaries that allow me to have authority.
Do you like the relationship you have?
So, I have a way to bond with them, maybe even have fun together. We happened to play a game of table football or go for an ice cream.If kids feel comfortable, they'll ask you things they might not have the courage to ask you. These are trivial examples but they build a beautiful relationship, you can't always just say "no".
How did your days in Livigno go?
Good. And I understood it from the fact that they followed me in everything. In fact, they were often the ones asking me to do some extra work.They really gave their all, and that's a great satisfaction for a coach. They do it because they know they can ask you for ice cream or a plate of chips. It's the little things that build a team and mutual trust.
Now you're back, how are you working until the next commitments?
They're racing on Sunday and I'll go see them. I still have some doubts to clear up, but I'll do it on the run. For the next commitments – Vertova, Paganessi and Lunigiana – I should choose six boys and take them with me always. But it becomes difficult, because some people have school commitments and are not always free.The idea is to go and see the roads of Lunigiana, immediately after Paganessi. It's always a good idea. take measurements with those pathsLunigiana in the photo seems simple, then you go there and it kills you.
So you have a lot of choice?
Yes and I'm happy about it, because it means that the work was done wellThey put me in difficulty, in the good sense of the word obviously.
Are they curious about your past experiences, the rider you were?
It's all about trust, the moment they trust you they are the ones who ask youI don't use the "in my day" method also because it becomes easy to be made fun of, you become the old man they don't want to listen toYou have to be one of them, when you establish this kind of relationship they open up and ask you for advice and suggestions.
Is the movement in your region constantly growing?
I really like how we're working. In four or five years there will be great satisfactionsI see some kids, especially the students, they get results but they are still “children”.
After a year of work, what do you think of modern cycling?
I can say that in Italy we don't really understand what cycling is now. Let's say that children should be raised peacefully, But then we have some good athletes who, as under-23s, can't find a team. We shouldn't squeeze them. but to put them in a position to do their bestIf we continue like this, we won't make them grow slowly, but we'll stop quickly.
Cycling has changed a lot in this regard.
There will be no more rider who will do 17 years of career, but what's the problem? Cycling is faster, it's not nice to say, but now you have less chance to tryI see it in a region like ours, where we have good riders even without a large number of members. Although at the Regional Committee level, it's not easy.
In what sense?
I was talking about it last year with Salvoldi, right at the Lunigiana. The aim is to do more stage races and grow the movement, for us regions, interest is high. The problem is managing to organize the season when money is scarce. Even the training camp just held in Livigno The teams paid for it and some parents paid for it. Not to mention that our president often puts money out of his own pocket.
