The facets of cycling are infinite and one of them in terms of sporting involvement is found in enhancement of the territoryIt's a two-way concept, because sports like cycling can bring value and interest to the area, just as the area itself does by giving back. It's not an exact equation, but it represents the right direction to go. Those who have noticed this and made it a commitment to their business are Philip Pozzato and its PP Sport Events.
The project was born from this vision Ride the Dreamland, a name that says it all: cycling in the land of dreams, be they sporting, social or cultural. The chosen land is the Veneto with all its peculiarities.
Land use planning
It all took place over the course of eight days, first with Gravel World Championship (8-9 October) and then the Ride the Dreamland races (12-16 October), with one common denominator: the Veneto regionPP Sport Events has in fact set itself the goal of promoting the regional territory as much as possible in its entirety. It is no coincidence that the events have reached many five provinces: Venice, Padua, Vicenza, Treviso and Rovigo. The 2022 organizational year was characterized by the first edition of the UCI Gravel World Championship, followed by Giro del Veneto, Serenissima Gravel, Social Ride VENEtoGO e Veneto Classic, now recognized as the closing events of the professional season.
"The numbers confirm to us," explains Filippo Pozzato, "that the path we have taken is the right one. We have demonstrated that cycling is extraordinary vehicle for the promotion of the territory, but this is just a starting point, we still have many ideas and projects to pursue. We would like to increasingly confirm our races as key events at the end of the season, while continuing to invest in gravel, of which we will organize a new one UCI World Championships in 2023.
«Furthermore, I would like to reiterate that our aim is not simply to organize cycling races, but rather to organize cycling events which, alongside the race, offer the public dentertainment, food and music, in a unique territory like the Veneto».
Attracting people
One of the key factors in making the equation work and creating attractive events that benefit the local area is involving as many people as possible.
"Our quality," says Pozzato, "must be to do something different from the others if we want to stand out and stand out. With the Serenissima and the Veneto Classic We don't have the history that you can have with other more famous races of our competitorsOne of our objectives is precisely that of make cycling more attractive to people. This is something I believe in a lot.
«In my opinion – he continues – we have a serious problem. The average user who watches cycling is too oldTo attract young people, we need to do something fun. Not just to get them to watch the races, but also to encourage them to take up cycling. In my opinion, we should... work as a team all together on this, something that has not yet been understood in Italy. Indeed they fight each other to harm othersIt's stupid, and it harms every sector. Cycling would always be the one to benefit."
Investing in young people
What cycling is today can be completely changed in a few years. The birth of a discipline like gravel represented a new opportunity that PP Sports Events has been able to grasp and valorize. Bringing together and embracing worlds outside of professionalism is another key approach that holds interesting implications. Like the amateur competition alongside the pro one during the gravel world championship race.
"That's a UCI regulation," Pozzato explains, "in my opinion it's very good, because it brings people together and gives enthusiasts the chance to compete with professionals by starting out together. A winning formula copied from marathonsThis is certainly an advantage for the organizer.
"As for young people," he says, "we always try to do something with schools. Many competitors are copying us, and it's something we're proud of and we're pushing for, so that they continue in this direction. It's right that there is competition, we started in 2020 by putting our children on bikes and taking them on the pump truck, teaching them to play and have fun on two wheels. All topped off with adedicated hospitality to our races for the little ones who participated in the activities. We believe strongly in young people. It's true that we organize races for professionals and amateurs, but If we don't invest in young people now, in 10 or 15 years the numbers will be even smaller».
You are not always understood
The total economic contribution to the territory during the eight days of cycling was approximately 9 million euro, with 110 thousand spectators in total flocked to the streets to cheer on the riders and 4,2 million who instead enjoyed the show from home. However, public opinion hasn't always supported the efforts of Pippo and his organization.
"I'm very angry," Pozzato says, "with some newspapers and TV stations focusing on the general controversy. Instead of focusing on the race itself and the contribution we bring to the area, it is preferable to point out any problems due to the road being closed for a race. In my opinion, events should become the heritage of the city, not of Pozzato and PP Sports Events.
«If we do an event in Vicenza, it must be the the city itself benefits from it and in turn have repercussions in terms of attractiveness. Some local television stations instead focus on stirring up controversy over the inconvenience caused by the arrival of the Giro del Veneto, without grasping its potential. Despite the obvious economic contribution, often cycling is not valued as it deserves. But we know that we are doing the right thing and the direction is winning. We have the Region behind us, the institutions believe in us and the growing numbers are supporting our vision. Compared to 2021, we have improved in several aspects and the return was significant in terms of people's satisfaction and participationWe're generating interest and more and more contacts, which is why I'm optimistic about 2023 and the future."
Veneto in the stern
One certainty has always accompanied Pozzato and his PP Sport Events since day one: the Veneto Region. "The local authorities believe in it deeply," Pippo points out. "Vicenza, which I mentioned earlier, hosted the start of the Gravel World Championships and the finish of the Giro del Veneto. My criticism is absolutely not directed at them., who are the first to make available what they can.
«Then there is the Veneto Region, which has always been at our side. Luca Zaia he has always been a supporter of cyclingWith the Giro d'Italia and everything that surrounds it, he knows the potential this sport has for the region. We didn't invent a new way of cycling.. This is simply the formula that everyone aspires to and tries to apply everywhere.
«We don't want to organize a bike race just for enthusiasts. Our goal – he concludes – remains to do an event that brings activity to the area and an economic contribution like an oil stain. Another goal is to create interest that encourages people to returnA simple example is the foreign fan who comes to follow his favorite and decides to return, being welcomed by all the socio-cultural activities that Veneto and its communities have to offer. This is an opportunity we must not waste."
