Andrea Montoli is traveling quickly towards his dream. The Lombard boy is about to begin his internship with the Eolo-Kometa. Andrea practically already wears those colors, but they are those of the Contador Foundation, the U23 of the senior team.
Since last August 1st he has entered the status of intern and can be called up to the first team. Meanwhile, he continues to work hard, commuting to and from Spain.
Hello, it's Ivan
This course is also intended as a reward for those who train well, show consistency in their races, and are serious about their training. One day Andrea's phone rang, and it was Ivan Basso.
«This news from the internship – says Montoli – it was unexpected. Ivan Basso called me directly and shortly after our press officer Juanfran De La Cruz who was about to prepare an article for the press release. When you start a journey in an under 23 team that has the pro team' It's your dream to be able to race with the champions.
«Ivan told me he was happy with what I was doing and with my growth path. Even though I didn't get great results and many top 10s, I was consistent, I worked for the team, I got into many breakaways.
"And the fact that they wanted me among the interns despite my lack of great results makes me doubly happy: they saw my improvements. Improvements that have occurred compared to last season, between Covid and school.
«This year I competed a lot, last year instead I had a more limited schedule».
First contacts
Montoli and his teammates from the Fundacion Contador have already had some contact with the pros. Especially in the first retreat last December, when they were all in the same large hotel.
"We'd meet for dinner," Montoli says, "and we'd also leave for training together, then each group would do its own thing. I already knew some of them, I think. Alessandro Fancellu and Lorenzo FortunatoThey're from these areas and I've met them on the street every now and then. Especially Fancellu. He's two years older than me and Alessandro also played in the junior league. Canturino 1902. So it happened that maybe they invited him to some social dinner. So they exchanged a few words even in retreat.
"Fortunato, on the other hand, occasionally ran into him at training. The first time was hilarious. It happened by chance. I was on the San Fermo della Battaglia, where the Lombardia team also passes. It was November, and we still had our old uniforms. I had a problem with my bike. Lorenzo passes by, stops, and when he sees me, he must have thought: “And who are you?” He probably mistook me for Fancellu. Then along the way we met. We discovered we had the same trainer, Giuseppe De Maria, after a few chats..."
Montoli, however, is ready for this taste of professionalism. And he's balanced in his excitement and fears.
"I," he says, "will try to make the most of this opportunity. I have nothing to lose. Going from the juniors to the U23s was already quite a leap, I imagine this will be even bigger. But I'm aware of my abilities, my resources. Honestly, I'm not scared, but I'm excited. I want to enjoy it.".
Dreaming of Bernocchi
Andrea Montoli still doesn't know when he'll make his debut. The date isn't certain. Stefano Zanatta, the sports director of Eolo-Kometa, who is also very good with young people, told us that he will certainly take part in at least a couple of races on the Italian calendar.
"Those after the World Cup," Zanatta explains, "like Agostoni, Piemonte, or Bernocchi, for sure. But maybe even in August, he could come to a Sabatini Cup, but I'm not sure. He will alternate with Munoz and Pietrobon, the other two interns.
«This internship is also a reward for those who have worked so hard. And then If we carry forward the young people's project, it is also right that they have certain experiences."
Zanatta mentioned Bernocchi, and Montoli himself, before closing the interview, told us: «Can I add something? I really hope that the Coppa Bernocchi will be among these races, because it's a bit like my home race, the one I feel most deeply about, the one I watched as a child. I know its streets very well. It takes place in Legnano, five kilometers from my house."
Maybe they'll accommodate him!
