La Two-Day International Junior Cycling Championships in Vertova It has confirmed itself as one of the most prestigious events on the Italian youth calendar. A competition that pits the best national talent against some of Europe's strongest teams, it has become a crucial testbed for assessing the level of the junior movement (Zanetti photo at the top).
With Patrick Pezzo Rosola great protagonist, Mirco Gualdi – organizer of the race – draws up a balance of the event, analyzing the differences with foreign cycling and reflecting on the future of young people in Italy.
Mirco, let's start with your race: are you satisfied? How did it go?
Then, satisfied because first of all there were no accidents and therefore no one got hurt. This is the first minimal result. We had no traffic-related issues. There were some falls, but only small scrapes, nothing serious. From a technical and organizational standpoint, everything went smoothly: we had more than 100 volunteers on the route.
So the garrisons were widespread?
Yes, we had someone in practically every municipality. Sometimes I ask for 15 people, and they bring 20. Many gladly return every year. In October, we have a dinner with all the volunteers and sponsors to publicly thank them. Compared to ten years ago, the courses and bureaucratic constraints have doubled, and obtaining permits has become complicated and exhausting. Road owners force you to take 100 percent responsibility.
And the technical aspect of the races?
Saturday was very fast: more than 47 km/h on average on a track that was twisty in one half and flowing in the other. The group was running at over 50 km/h, with many attacks. In the end a quartet was formed and the two boys from Team Grenke, Anatol Friedl and Karl Herzog, played as a team. The winner was a rider who recently became European junior mountain bike champion, a sign that the famous multidisciplinary approach pays off.
And what about Sunday?
It was another close race. The Italians made a good impression, racing without fear. There were two of the best Danish teams, other top-level foreign teams, and several teams from Northern Italy. Second place went to Patrick Pezzo Rosola, fourth to Mattia Agostinacchio.
We had five Italians in the top ten: a good sign…
In fact, we were happy. Otherwise, it would become a foreign monologue, and that's disappointing, given that the organization is for everyone. If Italians stand out, the race's appeal grows.
How did you find the junior movement compared to a few years ago?
The difference is that foreign teams are growing, while some Italian teams are struggling. Abroad, junior teams are linked to professional structures: for example, Grenke is the nursery of Red Bull-BoraThis year there was no Decathlon-AG2R, but that's the level. These are guys who race 1.2 races and already have an international approach.
What does this approach consist of?
It's different: abroad, they see boys as men, not as children. They let them grow, make mistakes, and mature. In Italy you have an agent, a mental coach, and a trainer, but the young player remains "just a boy" and at the same time is under pressure to achieve results at all costs. If you don't bring in points as a junior, you risk not finding an under-23 team. Abroad they may have fewer, but as mentioned, they are treated like men.
Clear…
And then you need athletic directors, but there aren't any if you want to do two things. Parents can't accompany you, and as a result, some kids have to miss out on running that Sunday. With Giuseppe Guerini and other former riders we take turns with the boys, but the connection between those who direct and reality seems to be missing.The risk is that, without a change in mentality, many teams will disappear.
The discussion is really broad….
What are our goals? Is it to have a well-stocked nursery or, if possible, a few champions? We at UC San Marco Vertova do promotion in schools and squares, but it's all voluntary. There's no federal system to support these initiatives, nor any legal protections. If a child gets hurt while testing a bike, it's our responsibility. If this continues, we'll need provincial federal academies. Meanwhile, the larger teams, which used to provide reimbursements to their kids, are closing down.
Let's get to Patrick Pezzo Rosola: how did you see him?
I didn't have a chance to talk to him much; I was so busy with the organization. I saw him a little upset after the finish. It remains to be seen whether it was because he was disappointed, or because of the way he was beaten. There was a U-turn at the end, the Latvian time trial champion, Georgs Tjumins came in very strongly and immediately gained two meters. Which, coming out of the corner, became three, four, seven... Perhaps Patrick thought that with a different approach he could change the outcome.
In the end, however, he ran a great race…
Exactly, he was the best on the final climb, he didn't let the group catch him. After 130 very tough kilometers, it shows you have the energy and the character. But back to the point: Foreign teams have an incredible international program, including Germany, Belgium, Holland and France. The Italians, on the other hand, haven't even been to the junior Paris-Roubaix this year. Without experience outside of that, what can we expect?
So the issue remains that of international racing?
Absolutely. La Federation It should say: “The Two Days of Vertova becomes our Junior World Cup. What do you need?” We host 17 foreign teams and 18 Italian ones, half of which goes to food and lodging. Almost all the others are volunteers, enthusiasts, and friends who work for free. We need a comprehensive vision: Italian youth need to race more abroad and have key events at home, too.
