Franchise man, Cesare Benedetti couldn't be more suited to that. In the United States, that's how he's called. athletes who spend their careers in a single teamIn football, they call them flags. These figures no longer seem to exist. In cycling—where riders frequently change teams—they have almost never existed, but there are examples of long-term loyalty. Valverde and Erviti have been in the same company since 2005, Rojas and Gesink since 2007, Pinot e Geraint Thomas from 2010.
Among them there is also the Trentino of Bora Hansgrohe, which, unlike its aforementioned colleagues, boasts a particular primacy. Since 2010, when he turned professional, the 34-year-old from Rovereto (who became Polish a year ago) has been riding for the same team And not only that. He's seen her grow (and win) from continental to professional to WorldTour, from her NetApp days to the present.
The hero of Pinerolo
Benedetti – who lived in 2019 his day of glory winning the Cuneo-Pinerolo (opening photo), twelfth stage of the Tour of Italy – he is the prototype of the trusted teammate (this year he has competed in 90 races, first in this special ranking) and he has always spent his many seasons at the service of the many captains and teammates he has seen pass by.
So, while our chat is already well underway and we prepare to delve deeper into his adventure in the German team, Cesare confesses his Inter Milan football faith to us giving us the opportunity to play a little game at the end of the interview.
"I don't follow Inter anymore," he explains, "like I used to. Whenever I can now, I go to Poland to watch Piast Gliwice, my hometown team. Just think, on May 19th, two years ago, when I won the match in Pinerolo, they won their first and only Scudetto."
How do you feel about being considered a so-called franchise man?
It has a certain effect because I have been here since the year it was founded. Counting from the beginning, next year it will be just me and the team manager (Ralph Denk, ed.) left.Of the old guard, Schillinger will no longer be there, as he's retiring, Schwarzmann is leaving (he'll be joining Lotto Soudal, ed.), and neither will sporting director Enrico Poitschke. It was he who wanted me and kept me on the team. In modern cycling it is unusual to always stay in the same teamI feel a bit like the Javier Zanetti of Bora-Hansgrohe.
What do you remember about 2010?
In September of the previous year I had had the first meetings with the management, who already had the goal of climbing the categories. There has always been a project behind it that had the slogan “ProTour (the current World Tour, ed.) in three years”. Initially, they had to reduce the budget, but they maintained the same ambition. Already in 2011, when we turned professional, we had a significant calendar and participated in Roubaix. From then on, we have always competed in WorldTour races.
Six seasons in the Professional category, then in 2017 Sagan arrived and also the WorldTour…
Yes, Tinkoff had fallen apart and both the license and a number of riders, including Peter, were free. The management immediately seized the opportunity thanks to the entry of HansgroheBut it must be remembered that Bora had already entered the market in 2012. First as a small brand on a sleeve and then as the main name. We grew with our sponsors and they grew as companies thanks to us too..
Were you the first to welcome all the new arrivals?
No, I didn't do any baptisms (laughs, ed.). The management took care of that. I can tell you, however, that I saw a lot of people passing by, including riders and staff members. However, I think of some riders I saw progress when they were young, like Buchmann for example.
2022 will be your thirteenth season with the Bora group. Have you ever had any requests from other teams or wanted a change of scenery?
Since I don't have an agent, I didn't have the nerve to offer myself elsewhere. My confirmation here has never been a given, I have always earned it in competition.Like in August 2015 when the club told me they wanted to focus on younger, German players. Then I had a good end to the season and renewed my contract.
What's so special about this company?
Seriousness and internationality, even if it is very tied to the territory where it was born. He has a high managerial level. Perhaps the fact that I stayed here for so long had an impact on my mentality, which was very close to that of the management, and my great spirit of adaptation.
Let's get back to your Inter. Which of your teammates this year remind you of the Nerazzurri players?
Well, it's not easy, but I'll try (laughs, ed.). Ackermann is a finisher like Milito. Schwarzmann has the solidity of Matthaeus. Leopold Konig, on the other hand, reminds me of Adriano, a talent with great promise, who never quite blossomed. Aleotti he is as whimsical as Djorkaeff, while Blacksmith It's snappy and small like Ganz was. Oss He has the physicality and confidence of Materazzi. Finally History the absolute star like Ronaldo. There aren't many like them.
And does Benedetti want to stay with Bora even at the end of his career?
I don't know. Sometimes I think I couldn't live without cycling, even as a manager. Other times, I think I'd love to have a goat and chicken farm between Trentino and Poland. You have to know how to be useful to societyAt the moment the idea is to continue racing for another two years, possibly always here.
