Ruggero Borghi has a story to tell that fits very well with modern times and its current role: that of the trainer. Borghi stopped cycling 16 years ago, lives in Cantù, and has been collaborating with the CC Canturino, taking care of the athletic part.
"I like to pass on part of my experience to young people," Borghi tells us. "I started running late, in my second year as a student. Actually, I had already put my butt on the bike when I was younger, but there was the ball involved and I went on that.Then at 16 I returned to cycling. I was an amateur with great performances and then 12 years as a pro, but I didn't repeat the same results. I've always been passionate about athletic training, so once I stopped finding my way was easy.».
What do kids need now?
It helps, because they are very intelligent and prepared, but they need to understand how it works. I realize that these kids are very into technology. (Power meters in particular, ed.) It's important to know how to use the tools, but you have to do it correctly. The relationship between the trainer and the rider comes first.
How is it built?
Over time. The coach's job is to conduct tests and provide training plans, but the real relationship is built through the athlete's feedback. When the season doesn't start well, they ask you, they ask questionsYou have to be good at not letting him lose trust, there are so many external factors. So many things can make a difference...
Which?
The mind. Kids need to understand that it's what makes the difference. They have school, a life to build, and many commitments. As a junior, you don't have to win, but you have to grow and learn.I try to make him understand. It's true that if you win, you're more likely to find a team, but there's a journey to be made.
Growth?
Yes. Winning as a junior takes the right amount of effort. At this age, some people are more developed than others.You can't expect everyone to push the 53x11 (the reference is to the use of free gears in the junior category, ed.). It's under 23 that you build your career and you have to do it at the right time..
What are the right times?
The under 23 category lasts four years. There's a rush to get there and back there too.Everything has sped up a lot, but you have to build on it. I was very fast as an amateur, but it took me years to find my rhythm as a professional.
The rush also comes from the WT Devo Teams, who often only sign two-year contracts.
An example is here at CC Canturino: Mattia Sambinello. He will go abroad (to Hagens-Berman, ed.) but I talked to him a lotI would have liked him to stay in Italy and race. But Sambinello has his own mentality and says he has more opportunities abroad. In Italy, however, there's a strong cycling culture and teams that do adequate work.
Many continental teams have not made the change of pace that one would have expected…
This is also true, but the teams are there. Colpack and CTF are a good example.
You started working with juniors eight years ago, and the cycling world was very different. What's changed?
The first year I worked with the CC Canturino was here Andrea Bagioli. He is someone who has had a great career, always remaining in Italy., he moved to Colpack and then went to the WorldTour.
But eight years ago, Devo Teams didn't exist, so we were used to staying in Italy. Now, going abroad is more attractive.
Entering that world allows you to have one foot in the professional world and this is good for riders who are ready, who have their heads. Bagioli was one of those who was predisposed, even as a junior, to be a riderHis career is an example of this. Other guys weren't, or were less so. It comes to mind Fancellu, who perhaps would have done better to stay in Italy and take a more traditional path. We have the talent...
We are certain of this…
Otherwise they wouldn't come to get them from abroad. There are so many kids who leave once the junior category is over (now also the juniors They can go abroad, ed.). We need a project to keep them here, to give them an alternative they can consider valid.
