CONI's Silver Palm for the technician (and former athlete) Paolo Slongo, a 52-year-old from Treviso. Married to Valeria, father of two children, he has been a trainer and team manager for Vincenzo Nibali, Peter Sagan, Elia Viviani, Ivan Basso, Fabio Aru, and the unforgettable Michele Scarponi, Vincenzo Nibali's teammate at Astana, and recently for Elisa Longo Borghini. The recognition was presented to him on Wednesday at the ceremony in Rovigo, in the presence of CONI President Giovanni Malagò and Treviso section president Mario Sanson.
The results that most closely tie him to an athlete are the victories (and satisfactions) with Vincenzo Nibali: a Tour de France (2014), two Giro d'Italia in 2013 and 2016, a Vuelta a España in 2010, two Lombardy Classics in 2015 and 2017, and a Milan-San Remo in 2018. He also boasts another Vuelta success with Fabio Aru in 2015. He has followed the successes of Elia Viviani, Peter Sagan, and Spanish cyclist Mikel Landa Meana.
Besides Vincenzo Nibali, he has won the Giro d'Italia twice, the first time with Ivan Basso in 2010. He has never won an Olympic Games: he was a silver medalist in 2016 in Rio with Danish athlete Jakob Diemerg Fuglsang, his athlete at Astana.
Recently, he has been working with the queen of women's cycling, Elisa Longo Borghini, this year's Giro d'Italia winner, gold in the European relay, and bronze at the World Championships. He has witnessed two victories at the Tour of Flanders by the Piedmontese champion, her success at Paris-Roubaix, and two bronze medals at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics. Then, in women's cycling, he has followed the achievements of Elisa Balsamo.
"I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to my journey," comments Paolo Slongo. "This welcome recognition reinforces my desire for excellence and innovation and motivates me for new challenges."
After being a cyclist from 1982 to 1995, Paolo Slongo embarked on a career as a technician. From 2001 to 2005, he was the women's technical commissioner, from 2007 to 2012 he was president of the Liquigas Team, and from 2022 to this year, he has been a member of the scientific commission of the Italian Cycling Federation's technical school.
His club career began with Liquigas, which would later become Cannondale, from 2008 to 2013, as a sports director and coach. He continued with Astana as head coach and sports director from 2014 to 2016 and in the same role from 2017 to 2019 at Bahrain Merida. From 2020 to 2024, he was head coach and sports director with Trek Segafredo-Lidl Trek. From 2025 until 2027, he will be the head coach of Team UAE.
Paolo Slongo has received the Rotonda di Badoere award in 2010; in 2014 and 2017, he was the Golden Admiral. In 2015, he was awarded the Bronze Palm by CONI, in 2017 he received the Tuttobici Oscar, and for the 2022 season, he was honored with the Silver Palm.