At 19,40pm, about 23 minutes later Wout Van Aert's victory in Paris and 15 after the arrival of Jonathan Milan in green jersey, the statement of the Cycling League It was made available to journalists via WhatsApp.
«Jonathan Milan, the pride of Italy, wins the points jersey at the Tour de France. Win 2 stages and take the green jersey leaving behind champions such as Tadej Pogačar, Biniam Girmay and Jonas Vingegaard – writes president Pella (here the full text) – it is an extraordinary result. As the Professional Cycling League we will be promoters and organizers of a high-profile institutional event at the Chamber of Deputies to reward Jonathan Milan».
After the League, the FCI
At 19,56pm, sixteen minutes later, via the Telegram account of the Federation Instead, the words of President Dagnoni arrived.
«The two stage victories – writes (here the full text) – the conquest of the green jersey by Jonathan Milan, the great work done in their respective teams by riders such as Simone Consonni, Matteo Trentin and Edoardo Affini, who also got on the podium in the time trial stage, the second place of Davide Ballerini today in a prestigious, tough and spectacular stage, the placings of Velasco, Dainese, Albanese, give us a Tour that has never been so successful for Italian cycling in a long time».
Italy, a model to be reviewed
It goes on like this with every victory, in an internal competition between two bodies that should work in common agreement, instead, they don't hold back from shoving each other. They attend award ceremonies and podiums as if wanting to mark their territory. Meanwhile, Italian cycling, which they talk about with predictable emphasis, continues its march (in the opening, an image depositphotos.com). Professional teams do not have the minimum level required to compete and go to score points in class 2 races, those for amateurs. The organizers were asked to add the women's event, but their budget has remained essentially unchanged. Junior teams, which over the years have built their reputation by recruiting strong riders from every corner of Italy, neglecting local riders because they have fewer points, are struggling and sometimes even closing down.
Everything is blamed on the WorldTour and their I have to team up, without realizing that the Italian model should be adapted to what is happening in the rest of the world or new rules should be identifiedPresident Dagnoni is part of the Professional Cycling Council, what proposals have you brought forward to regulate the transition of juniors to professionalism or at least attempt to do so?
The missing WorldTour
It's true that we have highly regarded managers and renowned technicians, as well as highly qualified staff. But they all work on teams with foreign budgets: All it takes is for those who put up the money to decide to impose staff of their own nationality and everything can change. German sponsor Lidl has climbed the team, gaining the upper hand over the American Trek: in that group, which together with Astana more than others protects the Italian riders, everything could change.
If it is true that the Tour is the showcase of the strongest riders, the minimal presence of Italians must produce a reflectionThe Italian WorldTour is very useful. We don't hide behind the Italian presence in the world teams. The unforgettable Liquigas by Roberto Amadio also fielded international champions such as Sagan, Szmyd and Bodnar, but allowed to Nibali, Basso, Viviani, Oss, Moser, Cimolai, Caruso, Guarnieri, Bennati, Pellizotti, Sabatini, Vanotti and Capecchi (among others) to become solid and take flight towards other realities. What 31-man world team would be willing to include 21 Italians?
The League's money
The national team is preparing to launch the expedition for the World Cup in Rwanda e will depart with a reduced contingent of athletes, mechanics and masseurs, given the high costs of shippingWe won't be the only ones: the trip is expensive. There are also rumors of further cuts, potentially affecting key figures, and of Secretary Tolu's ever-increasing influence on federal decisions.
Given the moment and the ability of President Pella in having intercepted several million euros in the latest Finance Act for the activities of the Professional Cycling League, Why not imagine that the same company would cover the travel and accommodation expenses of professionals in Rwanda, leaving the FCI to take care of the other categories? Likewise, given that your Council also includes teams and organizers experiencing particularly difficult times, has it already considered intervening on their behalf?
Equal pay for men and women is a great achievement, but Even better would be to approve professionalism for girlsFootball did it two years ago, offering its athletes the prospect of a pension and protections that not all teams are now required to guarantee.
And so if the duel between Pogacar and Vingegaard it did good for cycling, the same cannot be said for the one between the League and the Federation. Can it be a mutual stimulus, as Tadej said about himself and Jonas? It's desirable.If this continues until the next elections, we're in for a truly long four-year period.
