As is known the Qhubeka-Assos he is not living through easy days. There are dark clouds hanging over the future of the WorldTour team. And the further we go, the more time is running out. And this doesn't just concern the WorldTour team, but also the continental one. At least indirectly, as we discover from Daniele Nieri, his sports director…
And that indirectness, it seems, is crucial. All of this is very similar to what happened around this time last year. With the main team saved at the last minute and the continental team having assurances in place. However…
Daniele, what is the situation in Qhubeka continental?
The continental team will continue. We are just waiting for the fate of the WorldTour, but as far as our future is concerned, General Manager, Douglas Ryder, told us that it continues. The youth project continues. The African cycling project, with South Africans, Ethiopians...
So are you calm?
So we're calm. Of course, it's one thing to have only a continental championship, and another to have the WorldTour as well. This affects the growth of the kids.
That?
Well, they have more chances to be in contact with bigger riders, Sometimes staying close to them and following their pace, especially gives them the opportunity to do certain races. Last year there was a rider swap: Haina e Dlamini from us, Puppy from them…
If the WorldTour doesn't exist, would the continental team continue to employ only young riders or would it take on some of the excess riders from the main team? Think of Pozzovivo... for example.
No, let's move on with the youngsters. I don't think that a rider of the caliber of Well I live I want to join a continental team. It would be up to him and his manager to decide. They should discuss it. WorldTour or not, we'll continue on our own path. The only thing that would change is that we wouldn't have races like the Coppi e Bartali scheduled.
And is the team already formed for 2022?
Yes. The team will announce the full roster soon. I can't reveal all the names yet, but there will be 10-11 athletes in total, five of whom will be Italian. They are confirmed. Kevin Bonaldo e Mattia Guasco and what's more, for the first time, we took a junior, Raffaele Mosca, an Umbrian climber.
So are you ready to get started or have you already started?
The boys have already started pedaling again in their locations. In early December we will spend a few days on a retreat in Tuscany, at least with the Italians and an Ethiopian boy who didn't return home. If the WorldTour takes place in January, I assume we'll go to Spain with them, otherwise we'll organize ourselves independently.
Daniele, you're one of the youngest technicians ever, maybe you speak a language similar to that of the kids...
The fact that I'm a young sports director—I'm 35—means that I have a lot to learn. Luckily when I was the mechanic of the pro teams I had the opportunity to be next to and in the team car with Peter Algiers, who for me is one of the best coaches of the last 40 years, and I try to take inspiration from him. I try to implement what I've seen and what he taught me.
And what?
His ways. The calmness in speaking, the tranquility, the ability to really listen to the children. For me, this is the Algiers model to follow.
Is there anything from last season that you “promote” and anything that you “failed” at, with all the appropriate quotation marks?
Passed, as I said, I try to be close to the boys. Failed, I'd say that perhaps there could have been better management of the boys in some cases. Like with Puppio. With Antonio, a relationship of 100% trust wasn't built... but on both sides. An area that needs improvement.
