Looking at the various statistics on the reference sites, we were struck by the huge difference found on racing days among the neo-professionals: young guys who are just entering the world of the big ones. So we wanted to investigate among the various teams to understand how they manage their boysThe selected teams include two professionals and two WorldTour teams.
For the UAE Baldato speaks
The first person questioned on this delicate topic is Fabio Baldato, sporting director of the Emirati team. Among the boys seen from the Veneto stands out the name of Ayuso, a Spanish rider born in 2002 who, in his first participation in the Vuelta, finished third in the general classification.
«First of all – Baldato begins – it's all very subjective, there are young people who need a longer adaptation period. Others, however, you see that they are already ready, but even in these cases the work to be done is delicate.We slowed Ayuso down, trying to keep his exuberance under control. He's not the first mature rider I've come across, in BMC I had kung and Dillier who were already readyIn these cases, we sports directors have to be good at evaluating, never overdoing it. Young riders players often don't set limits. They're more confident, and you can see that in their attitude during the race. They listen to you up to a certain point, preaching is fine but then you have to put yourself in their shoesI am aware that we sports directors can teach something, but what remains is the "defeat". Ayuso himself took some at the beginning of 2022 and grew up».
«Then there are the normal riders, one that we have in UAE It's Felix Gross. He did his internship in 2021 with good data but no results. Last season he had more consistency and achieved a nice fourth place in a stage at the Tour of GermanyRunners like this need to be supported, even mentally, because they need to understand that their growth must be gradual and begins with smaller races where they learn to be competitive."
Intermarché side
The Intermarché Circus Wanty has had a solid growth plan for many years, which has also been supported by the creation of the Development team. Valerio Piva, sport director of the Belgian team also tells us what relationship the two teams have between them.
«The development team has a separate structure – he explains – the goal is to take young guys and produce riders. There will be an exchange between one team and another, Busatto himself will play some games with usAs for the WorldTour team, the objective is different: the young riders we take on come from professional or continental teams. We don't believe in the "jump in category" from junior to professional, the boys have to take an intermediate step: the during 23Kids need to learn to manage the impact of running and different types of training. In an increasingly fast-paced cycling environment, it's important to remember that the margin for error is minimal, and you risk burning out athletes by demanding something they can't do. We gradually introduce the young riders we have in the WorldTour team, you will never see them participate in top-level races.».
«This season the team has undergone a revolution – continues Piva – taking on many young players and losing experienced riders like Kristoff. It's not that we didn't believe in him, but we preferred a more long-term project.We won't win as many races as last year, but that's something we've anticipated; it's part of the generational change. Tanning Thijssen, he is a rider on whom we spent a lot in 2022 in terms of men and opportunitiesHe's shown some good things and this year he's called upon to make a qualitative leap, but it's all been gradual. For his own good and that of the team."
The vision of the professionals
La Green Project Bardiani It's the professional team that has a different project from the others, the young players are taken on and immediately become professionals. At least at the contractual level, but then within the team a distinction is made, practically creating two distinct teams. Rossato The sports director in charge of these kids explains his working method and its critical points.
«The first thing – he says from the Vuelta a San Juan – is to try not to stress the guys too much. Those who come from the last year of juniors have school and for them it must be a priority. Last year at Pinarello e Pellizzari We've built a suitable program. It's a dream for them to settle in: having a dedicated staff and being supported like this is a wonderful thing. Let's not forget that the juniors last year still had the blocked relationshipsOnce he was with us, we also had to teach him how to manage this. We also worked a lot on nutrition, weight, and training. Details that make all the difference when you're a professional. We got some good results from last year's youngstersAt the end of the season, Pellizzari and Pinarello raced with the professionals in the Tour of Slovakia and the Tre Valli. We were very happy with their response."
«Those who come to us who have already played a few seasons as an under-23 have a more intense program. Always considering the qualities and the fact that I am at my first experience with professionalsRunners who can also race as under-18s have mixed calendars with different experiences. Marcellusi prima di win the Piva He ran in Türkiye and the Milan-Turin, two great training grounds for growth. Tolio He is another one who has raced a lot among the under 23s and the professionals, adding to his calendar important races such as Strade Bianche and LombardyThese are races that a young boy can earn, they are like a prize that comes at the end of a good growth path."
The last word goes to Eolo
La Eolo Kometa has a different vision in his idea of team, with two separate teams: the professional and the under 23. Stephen Zanatta He has worked with young people for many years and has seen a lot.
“Our two teams are directly connected,” Zanatta began. “You see the young players right away and follow their growth. This is because once they move into the first team you already have an idea of what kind of player you're facing.I believe that even the great champions need a year among the under 23s. Even in Liquigas, where we had riders like cruciger e History, we held the same ideology. At least one year of experience in the youth categoryRunners may be talented, but they need personal and physical growth. Even our young players coming from the under 23 team will need to adapt to racingWe don't want to burden them with pressure or too high expectations."
«The path for the kids who come to us – continues the Eolo sports director – is to start with easier races. Then we move on to the higher quality ones and we try to see how a boy reacts to running as a protagonist. From my experience, I can say that a boy reaches results between the ages of 24 and 25. Nibali He himself gained a lot of experience and matured, subsequently obtaining the results that we all know. Continuous but balanced activity is required: fifty days of running is about right. The best thing is to give the kids breaks and let them recover, without creating too big gaps in the schedule, otherwise the work done will be lost. Now young people are allowed to make fewer mistakes, it is not fair towards them because they are subjected to greater pressure. Maybe you have to be mentally stronger to be a rider now."
