Two hundred and seventeen kilometers divided into three stages and three thousand five hundred meters of total elevation gain. These are the most important numbers of the Tour Ambert Livradois-Forez, a Junior race that will take place today and tomorrow in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France and will see athletes from Giovani Giussanesi among the participants.

The Brianza-based team, which this season has often been challenging its athletes in races outside Italian borders and achieving good results, will tackle the trip with five riders: Emanuele Parianotti, fresh from the podium conquered in Germany at Rund um Schönaich; Alessio Rossi, fifth-placed in the BCC Grand Prix of Cantù; Luca De Mercanti, placed in the GP Berra raced in Switzerland; the German Nils Borrmann and Martino Cescato.

This new competitive commitment abroad is part of a human and sporting growth project that Luca Poggiali and Roberto Brenna have structured and are developing together with coach Giampaolo Cheula.

"Taking the boys to race abroad is not new for Giovani Giussanesi. Already in 2018, when the Society returned to the Junior category, we had participated in a race in Portugal and also an event in Austria: these experiences were recommended by Cheula himself. Giampaolo and I have been friends for a long time, and this year we entrusted him with technical guidance (among the collaborators are also Ruggero Borghi, another former professional and now athletic trainer, Giovanni Aloè, Emanuele Piazza, and Mino Bellettati, ed.) and organized a project that will bring our boys to frequently compare themselves with peer teams from foreign squads on routes different from the usual Italian ones," Brenna tells tuttobiciweb.

He then adds: "We have noticed that races outside our borders are approached differently, they are more competitive, and this allows the boys to grow not only athletically but also as individuals. Because, let's not forget, the goal of Giovani Giussanesi is the gradual growth of boys who, if they wish, in the coming years can continue their careers in higher categories."

On the same wavelength is the other Giussanese manager Luca Poggiali: "Thanks to this project, this year we have already been to France several times, to two races in Switzerland, and one in Germany. We feel like hunters of memories, of particular experiences, and it is in this way that we think we can help the growth of our athletes."

In the short French stage race, 24 teams will participate, having registered a total of 125 athletes, including Juniors from Britain, Canada, Germany, Colombia, and Mauritius.

In conclusion, we note that the organizers of the Union Cycliste Ambert Auvergne, in parallel with the men's event, are also managing the three stages of the Tour Ambert Livradois-Forez Femmes.

STAGES OF THE MEN'S COMPETITION

10/05 - STAGE 1 Saint-Amant-Roche-Savine - Saint-Germain-l'Herm (95.8 km)

11/05 – STAGE 2 TIME TRIAL - Fournols - Fournols (13 km)

11/05 – STAGE 3: Ambert - Ambert (109.3 km)