The best advice to the kids of Androni Giocattoli, stunned by the exclusion from the Giro, gives it to Davide Cassani, technical commissioner of the national team.
«If I were Ellena or Spezialetti – he says – I have only one thing to say to my riders, looking them in the eyeWe use every race to show them that they were wrong with this exclusion. With the anger of great occasionsIt's like when a football team finds itself in the relegation zone and doesn't give up, but instead goes on to beat the big teams. If I were them, I'd experience it that way. I realize it's not easy, but there's nothing else to do."
Wild Card Dilemma
Davide is in the middle of a test lap on the track, planning his 2021 activity and observing what's happening in the professional world. The choice of teams for the Giro has caused more than just bad feelings, which is also understandable. One could talk for hours about the criteria that led to Rcs Sports to make wild card choices in favor of the Eolo-Kometa and Bardiani-Csf and Vini Zabù. Actually, the only thing to do is wait for Mauro Vegni's reasons (in the opening photo). Because some steps of the choice, in the absence of an objective criterion, really raise some doubts.
Davide, what do you think of the selection made?
When commenting on the exclusion of an Italian team, it's always hard to explain. Especially because Androni has always shown that he honours the Giro d'Italia and has really launched many young riders into the WorldTourIf nothing else, they will still have a good schedule to prove themselves. And that is It's already good that the extra wild card was granted, otherwise we would be here talking about two exclusions.
Wouldn't it be better to abandon the invitation system and rely on more objective criteria?
The trouble is that it would be it's difficult to draw up a ranking.
The Giro d'Italia U23 has been running for years with a qualifying system, a bit like what was done here with the Coppa Italia, or Ciclismo Cup, as you might call it…
True, but in the end last year we also moved on to invitations there, because the sports directors objected that the boys couldn't be exhausted in the race for a place. The only criterion could be the UCI ranking from the previous year, because otherwise you would have teams that race more and go around the world to score points and others that can't.
Did you expect Quintana to miss the Giro?
Honestly I prefer to think from a national team perspective and I'm happy that there is room for another Italian team.
Was it already written that Basso and Contador's team would enter?
I don't know how it was written, but it is undeniable that the project is validThey have young riders and more experienced ones who want to relaunch themselves.
Imagine being one of the inexperienced riders of Vini Zabù. What would your mood be this evening?
I would have morale at a thousand. Starting from Mareczko and going down, I would feel the responsibility to show that we deserved the placeI remember when I turned professional at 21, I couldn't wait for the Giro to start. Well, I think they should experience it the same way.
