One of the elements that emerged from the junior season that is now coming to a close was the difficulty for many teams in finding space in a movement where there are giants like Borgo Molino, which act as a point of reference in the same way that Jumbo Visma and Quick Step Alpha Vynil can be in the WorldTour. This isn't necessarily a negative factor: competition adds spice to victories when they come and allows young players who are fully developing in every respect to grow. Marco Of the Widow, responsible for Bustese Olonia, he knows it well.
The last weekend was definitely positive, first with second place in the Italian team time trial championship for just 2” behind the Borgo Molino (the two Bessegas, Turconi and Cattani together with the sports director in the opening photo), then with the triumph of Tommaso Bessega in the Giro delle 3 Province in Sirmione. A weekend that heightens the satisfaction of a season always at the forefront: "We can only be satisfied," Della Vedova stated. Ours is a team that works with limited resources, but we carry out our program with excellent results, working with about ten juniors».
The team has always had a consistent level and, above all, has ensured that each of the boys has the opportunity to emerge…
It's one of our main characteristics; for them, this is a period of transition and learning. We choose to work a bit in the old fashioned way, we don't have a nutritionist, masseur, we give up many elements that are considered fundamental today precisely because we want the kids to experience basic cycling., then they'll have time to grow in that respect too. We don't overdo the preparation, we don't look for particular peaks in form during the year. We have Marco Giannelli who helps us with the preparation, focusing on consistency, which is the most important thing for juniors.
Were you disappointed not to have your athletes at the World Championships?
I can't deny it. Some of the call-ups this year have left us a bit perplexed, even though we had four players on the national team for the Nations Cup trials. Of the ten athletes on the team, six have won at least once. For us, that's a lot; it reflects the team's core philosophy, and perhaps this penalizes us because we don't have a standout striker.None of us enter a race to be a domestique, then the race decides who's aiming for the result that day and who should help them.
Are you associated with any professional teams?
There is a connection with the Eolo Kometa born mostly due to geographical proximity. Andriotto e Low, who also has his son with us, often see the boys and there is a fast track for them to move up a category, but always based on their judgment.
Let's now analyze the individual season, starting with the one who just won, Tommaso Bessega, who also has his twin brother Gabriele in his team.
You want to know something? I'm really having a hard time recognizing them... At the Italian championship a judge was so desperate that he had a letter written on the arm of one of them to distinguish them.I say they both have an exaggerated engine, but they still lack a bit of mental ability, they're not 100 percent committed, and they still need to improve on that. But they have the resources: On Sunday, Tommaso did a 100-kilometer breakaway, finishing with a 1'20" lead. You can't do things like that if you don't have something inside you.
And the brother?
In some ways he is more on point, in fact he has collected more ranking points and a greater number of placings. They are both very good, next year they will arrive at Eolo Kometa and I think they will grow much more.
Another one who has stood out is Filippo Turconi…
He is very consistent, works well in training, and unlike his brothers, he is very focused on his activity. The peculiarity is that you train without a power meter, it goes very much by feeling like it was done in my timeHe's a strong climber with plenty of room for improvement.
In this regard, young riders are often described as being able to do a bit of everything, but without excelling in any one specialty. Is that also the case with yours?
No, we try to develop specialists because they're the ones the professional teams look for, and therefore the kids have a better chance of succeeding. Turconi is a pure climber, weighing in at 63 kilos, and Riccardo Bows it's another one. We want them to grow by focusing on those specific characteristics, always considering that you have to start from what Mother Nature has given you..
Also keeping in mind that these are kids in full development, even physically…
And this also changes the perspective. Ganna for example, I had as a rider at that age, he did amazing times on the climbs, but then he put on more muscle, it's clear that it becomes more difficult to stand out. Weight is an important value: if at this age you are already 65-68 kilos then you will struggleI had an Englishman who was a tiny 52 kilos, very light and flew uphill.
What's it like working with kids this age?
Beautiful and challenging. Kids today have so many distractions; while they may have the physical resources, their minds aren't always there to support them. I often get angry, I call them out, I explain to them that if they want to move forward, they are the first ones who have to believe in it and work on it. I get angry because I know their worth, I know they are among the best.
