"I'd decided to take a break. I wanted to stop. Then this opportunity came along, this leap in category, which gave me new motivation, and now here I am." Andrea Bardelli, one of the most well-known sports directors in the junior category, is ready to get back on track. And he will do so in Work Service-Vitalcare-Dynatek, continental team (opening photo: Work Service-Vitalcare).
The Tuscan coach will thus shuttle between the U23 category and the professionals, in that mix that characterizes continental competitions. Bardelli's passion remains intact, as does his desire to be close to the boys and hopefully help them win. For years he was one of the sports directors of the Franco Ballerini and in the past season of CPS Professional TeamHe had already had experience with the pros and U23s before. So, he has plenty of experience.
So Andrea, tell us how it went?
This summer, I received this offer from Work Service-Vitalcare-Dynatek. After ten years in the junior ranks, with good results and a number of young players reaching the professional ranks, I'm satisfied. I was just looking for a team for two of my athletes who were supposed to progress to the U23 level, Tommaso Farsetti and Tommaso Bambagioni. Friendship with Ilario Contessa, one of the sports directors, has always been there and just as I was looking for a team for the boys, he told me that Work Service also needed a technician.
Two birds with one stone, in short…
We met at the professional Giro di Toscana. Contessa told me about the technical revolution within the team. President Demetrio Iommi and owner Massimo Levorato wanted someone to work alongside the pro's sporting director Emilio Mistechelli.Not only that, but within this framework, we've also reached an agreement with a Lazio junior team, Team Coratti (the Work Service group also has a junior team, ed.). In short, my approach was initially supposed to be soft, but instead it will be comprehensive.
What kind of team will the continental Work Service-Vitalcare-Dynatek be?
A good mix of young and more experienced riders. There are some guys who need to be relaunched, like the two who come from Green Project-Bardiani, Rastelli e NieriThen I think of Ferrari, who won a Flanders Championship as a junior. And then Bonaldo, Belletta, Pierantozzi…
What kind of work will you be asked to do? Will it be much different from what you did in the junior ranks?
Above all, the approach to the youngsters will change. It's no secret that there are riders at the last call. I will therefore also have to work on the mental factor, But that doesn't scare me. Clearly, it's a different category and something else will be needed. But having been very close to a sporting director like Luca Amoriello, who is one of the best in organizing, I think I'm ready.
Exactly, it's different from the juniors. The continentals actually race in two categories, the U23s and the elite, pros…
We're certainly competing against well-equipped teams, but ultimately they're still young guys, and the challenges are the same. Then, in the winter, at home and during training, everyone's good. What matters will be the racing, especially to get to know the guys well. Some of them, the first years, will have to give a lot until May. In short, they'll have to start strong, because then they'll have their final exams. However, this must not be an alibi to throw away the rest of the season.
Andrea, we've seen you work live on the run with your fiery, attacking spirit. Let's move from the notes on the roadside with directions for the kids to the radios: we imagine it will be a different way of running.
Cycling is one thing, and so are the races. The approach with the kids will change, as mentioned.
Okay, but maybe you find yourself at a Giro di Sicilia with some WorldTour riders and you're not the one racing. Will that change anything?
In that case, it will be different, of course. But if I think about the under-23 races, we'll be able to take control of the race. Those are races where we'll try to do our best. In more important races, against the pros, we'll still have to show off. And that's what matters. Just because you leave for Laigueglia doesn't mean you automatically gain experience. You don't learn or improve just because you're in an important context. I say that You don't have to be afraid even in those racesWe mustn't be afraid of being at the front, of taking on responsibilities: growth also comes through these aspects. Then it's clear that it's not up to us to dictate the race. And all in all, against teams better equipped for us, it's also easier.
Clear…
Let's say that we will have two different speeds depending on the level of the races we will do. I'm convinced we have three or four guys who can do well even in the biggest races. Let's remember that everything has changed since Covid. Even in these races, which for us are the biggest and for others the smallest, the level is still very high.
You mentioned not being afraid, but is there anything that scares sporting director Bardelli?
No, if anything I'm scared of myself. In the sense that over the past ten years, I've gotten used to the results and the kids I've helped become professionals. It's an average of results that will be difficult to repeat in this category. So I shouldn't get discouraged or scared; you can't always win races. This year, at the end of the season, with the CPS, we were almost certain of victory in certain races. Regardless of the victories, I hope that meritocracy, which isn't very common in Italy, will emerge. In this sense they made me happy the congratulatory messages that Martin Svrcek and Michael Leonard sent me.
Last question. Will you be doing any retreats?
In recent weeks, the kids have been training at home. Then, during the holiday season and early January, taking advantage of the school closures, we will meet again in the Marche region, in MontapponeLater, in February, we'll have a second training camp. As for the races, we're waiting for confirmation for some races in France. Other guys will make their debuts at the Firenze-Empoli and San Geo.
