For the take-off in 2022 of the new Drone hopper there's not much left. The approval of the UCI control tower is required for the final release of the license., after which the fleet of “commander” Gianni Savio will be ready to fly in the new season.
«These are bureaucratic-administrative issues – he explains to us on the phone the Piedmontese general manager with his usual precise way of explaining the situation – which we will regularize in the next few days. It's a proforma given that Our new title sponsor is a start-up and therefore, starting now, has no previous financial statements to be shown to the competent bodies of theInternational Cycling Union. We had already reported it when we signed the multi-year contract, but we have produced the additional necessary documentation. It will take a little more time, but we are confident."
The Spanish company (based in Leganes, a city in the Madrid metropolitan area) has signed a contract with Savio's company until 2025. The team will be called Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli, with Sidermec remaining as the third brand.
Gianni, are you afraid that good news won't arrive?
No, we're calm. We have a four-season contract with this company which already has work orders worth 80 million euros booked for 2022. They built a factory from scratch in the Madrid hinterland We visited them over the summer to finalize the deal. Keep in mind that their real business begins with us. And I have a feeling we'll do very well.
Is the ambition still to reach the WorldTour or has something changed in the agreement with them in the meantime?
No, the initial plans remain. That is, an adequate investment for a professional team like ours for the first two seasonsThen in 2024 and 2025 there could be the possibility of increasing the budget to the highest category, also based on the results. Their project is that of the WorldTour but, contrary to a sponsor who "flies", I keep my feet on the groundAs always. I say this from experience, especially after the Venezuelan government incident. Cycling is constantly evolving right now, so there's no point in getting too excited.
With the arrival of this new Spanish sponsor, do you have any new goals? For example, after an initial adjustment period, could you get a wild card to compete in the Vuelta a España in 2023?
Basically, nothing changes for us. We will be consistent with our usual philosophy, trying to showcase our best talents.. As well as chasing victories. First of all, we hope to be invited to the next Giro d'Italia. Then I don't think we'll ever be invited to the Vuelta in two years, also because we currently don't have a team that can support the commitment that two major Tours in one year require.
Speaking of Giro, you came second in the Cycling Cup behind the UAE Team Emirates is ahead of Trek-Segafredo, two WorldTour teams. This is a good sign for a wild card.
Yes, but that's not enough. If the old regulation had remained we would have had the right to participate in the next Giro d'ItaliaFor the past five years, we've been the leading professional in this challenge. We're confident we'll be competing in the 2022 Giro.
The season just ended was a good one. Twelve wins and many players who made themselves better known.
I am very satisfied with 2021. And keep in mind that we were finishing the year with eight unavailable riders, which then became ten with the accidents of Chirico and Ravanelli, hit by a driver during training before the Veneto Classic. Fortunately, they're okay. I therefore renew my congratulations to the whole team for the results achieved.And I also thank all our sponsors.
As of today, the official roster for next year only includes twelve riders, including the new arrivals Grosu, Marengo, and the newly minted Gabriele Benedetti (Italian U23 champion, ed.). Someone's missing, right?
Absolutely yes. There will be about twenty of us. Two interesting young Colombians are coming and we will announce them shortly.We have renewed Fuck, Ravanelli, Sepulveda, Munoz, Bisolti e Chirico, which are probably not on the list you have in hand. The other confirmed ones are ponomar, Issue, Branders, Cepeda, Restrepo, Vigo, Tagliani and TesfatsionWe recently terminated Jerman's contract. We could add a couple more pieces to our puzzle.
Umba (back view) thanks Ravanelli after his victory at the Planche des Belles Filles Mattia Bais played for two seasons (2020-2021) gaining experience Ponomar is one of the young riders on whom the team can be rebuilt after a good Giro Cepeda's triumph on the Galibier, at over 2.600 metres above sea level
Umba (back view) thanks Ravanelli after his victory at the Planche des Belles Filles Mattia Bais played for two seasons (2020-2021) gaining experience Ponomar is one of the young riders on whom the team can be rebuilt after a good Giro Cepeda's triumph on the Galibier, at over 2.600 metres above sea level
Who will be the protagonists of your 2022?
Well, I hope everyone, of course. There are many of our kids who can do well, or even better. If I really have to name two, I'd say Andrii Ponomar and Santiago UmbaBoth, let's remember, were born in 2002 and were unlucky at the Tour de l'Avenir, where they crashed. This year, the former finished the Giro d'Italia halfway through the general classification, knowing how to manage himself well. The second one, who won two races in France, one of which atop La Planche des Belles Filles (at the Tour de Alsace, ed.), he'll test himself, if we have to, in the Giro d'Italia. Both are making another leap in quality.
Gianni, when will the new era of Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli begin?
We'll be having the rally in Italy in November, and we're deciding between three locations. We'll have a new jersey, again designed by Rosti. Salice will always provide us with a helmet and glasses. Instead, we'll change our bikes.After five years together with Bottecchia, we mutually decided not to continue, while still remaining on excellent terms.
