The publication of the piece on Umberto Orsini it did not go unnoticed. When a promising rider stops running at 26, everyone tends to sympathize with him and the comments on social media have multiplied. Some have claimed that the boy wasn't ready to move on and others have pointed the finger at the team. Called directly into question, Roberto Reverberi tried to explain his reasonsBut as often happens in certain places, the debate has been limited to predictable, not always conciliatory, comments. But since Orsini's case is not an isolated one, this time we decided to start with him.
"It's not a given," explains Bruno Reverberi's son, "that the contract is always a two-year one. A rider like Battaglin, who we had seen go very strong already as a trainee, was immediately given a three-year contract. Overall, however, You can see the good ones at first sight, because they send out interesting signals. I think of Modolo, who in his first year finished third in the San Benedetto sprint at the Tirreno and fourth at the Sanremo. I think of Colbrelli, second in the Bernocchi race in his first year and winner of a stage of the Giro di Padania. Orsini's problem was that he wasn't very focused. and he probably wasn't living the athlete's life as he should have."
2 more names
Compared to 2020, however, the appeal at Reverberi's house However, Francesco Romano, Alessandro Pessot and Marco Benfatto are also missingWhile the latter is still 33 years old and has six professional seasons under his belt, the first two were released at the end of their second season, bearing in mind that 2020 was heavily impacted by Covid.
«As I see it – says Reverberi – they were riders who were in doubt even from the previous season, but they had a two-year contract and it was right to give them a chance. In making certain evaluations, we also rely on what our classmates say, so a rider like Savini stayed, for the good things he showed. The problem with Romano is that he never fit into our way of racing; he was a bit of a smart guy. At the Giro d'Italia he didn't even do badly., but I remember the day in Romagna when he gave it his all to secure a flying finish and then broke away from the breakaway, making us look really good…
«Runners also need to integrate in the team – continues Reverberi – for example we let go Canola e Pasqualon because they were running about their business. Pessot also had problems going downhill And then he spoke little. If they were so strong, why wouldn't we have kept them? When you let the second-tier ones pass, you have to take into account the possibility that they'll quit. On the other hand, where are the ones we left free and who then made it big?
Which bands?
Here, however, the discussion risks becoming slippery. Partly because Pasqualon has had and is having an excellent career and also because, just yesterday, Raimondo Scimone explained to us the difficulties of relocating a rider left stranded from the previous team.
When Alessandro Pessot turned professional, it was said of him that he would have become a new De MarchiPowerful, strong in time trials, courageous, lover of escapes. In 2017, he had won the Carpathia Couriers Race as an U23, beating a very young PogacarHe wasn't a top-tier rider, as Reverberi said, but he could still become an excellent team player.
A registered letter
«In September – says the Friulian – I received a registered letter informing me that I would not be confirmedWithout further explanation. I understand that the team needs visibility and this comes from the escapes. I also understand that 2020 wasn't my best year, as it wasn't for many othersBut I can say that I have always given my best, in training and in racing, without being followed like at CTF Lab with which I continue to prepare. In these two years I have also had some problems and I took the opportunity knowing that time was short. de Marchi e Blacksmith They warned me that you can't wait because it's easy to miss the trainI may have made some mistakes, I think that's normal when you're trying to learn a trade, but I have no regrets with myself, except that having run only 25 days in 2020A few more days would have helped me find my condition and improve my experience. As for problems on the downhill, I can confirm that I have never been a dragon on the wet, but also that I had problems finding the right feeling with the materials. Not just me, but other teammates too. So much so that this year, not only the bikes but also the tires were changed."
Romano, 23 years old
Francesco Romano, for his part, finds himself back in Palazzago where he ran until he was 21, now being 23. After his second year as an U23, the Sicilian said that having turned professional too early and that a boy like him he didn't yet have the weapons to defend himself.
Two years and off we go
But that's precisely the point. What do you ask of a new professional beyond commitment and ensuring a good image for the team? Is he already capable of winning? Or is he just showing off? And if you take on such a young rider, it would no longer make sense to continue the investment And build his professionalism? Could riders who aren't up to par simply be demotivated? And if so, wouldn't it be helpful to put someone alongside them who won't waste their salaries month after month?
If you look closely, too De Marchi was a second tier and like him Ballan. Luckily for them, however, when they turned professionals, time was not marked by the rhythm of social media.
