WALTER ZINI: «I LIKE TO IDENTIFY TALENTS. IN 2025 A CONTINENTAL WITH YOUNG RIDERS AND IN 2026 A STEP FORWARD»
INTERVIEW | 14/12/2024 | 08:20 di Luca Galimberti In the winter of 2011, together with his collaborators, he was working to shape Bepink. Today, thirteen years later, his creation is one of the reference teams in the women's cycling landscape, and Walter Zini is working, with the same passion as always, looking towards 2025. On the microphones of tuttobiciweb, the expert Lombard manager has drawn a balance of the season now behind him and looked at the future of his team and women's cycling.
Walter, how was Bepink's 2024? "It was a very positive year. We worked with an almost completely renewed group composed of young athletes, and in some cases coming from other contexts, perhaps not very used to the kind of activity we do. I analyze the season regardless of the numbers (8 victories, ed.) and I can only be satisfied. I thank the girls, all staff members, and partner companies that are by the side of our team".
The season for you closed with the Italian team time trial title victory.
"Winning the national title is always beautiful. It was an achievement (obtained with a wide margin over the competitors, ed.) that repaid our entire group for the great work done with commitment during the year and gave morale to the girls". In the Italian champion quartet, there was also Monica Trinca Colonel.
In 2024, you "bet" on the Valtellinese, who had an excellent performance and will move to the World Tour next year.
"I gave Monica the opportunity to 'get back in the game' and I'm happy to have done so. Obviously, I'm also a bit sorry that she's leaving our team, but it's undeniable that she has great potential, and the World Tour is the natural outlet for a girl with her talent. I believe Monica still has to learn and gain experience, but if she's not in a hurry, in a couple of seasons I think we'll find her at the top of the rankings in important races".
The team that won the national title was also composed of Angela Oro, Andrea Casagranda, and Elisa Valutini, a young woman from Bergamo who performed well at the Giro d'Italia Women.
"Elisa is not yet twenty years old (she'll turn twenty on December 28th, ed.), but she has grit and talent. At the Giro, she did well, finishing fourth in the white jersey classification and winning the 'Carta Giovani Nazionale' award as the best Italian talent. Next year she will remain with us with the goal of improving and growing further".
At the pink race, Ana Vitória Magalhães also stood out, and the Brazilian will also move to the World Tour.
"At the Giro d'Italia Women, 'Tota' did something extraordinary. She attacked, went on a breakaway, and managed to wear the Blue Jersey: she gave prestige and visibility to our team. I'm convinced that she has margins for growth and improvement, and in her case too, the talent is evident. I thank her for what she did this season".
For Bepink, satisfactions also came thanks to Jenčušová. "Nora is young and growing. She won the Slovak national road and time trial championships, as well as the student world championship. She participated in the Europeans, World Championships, and Paris Olympic Games, where she was long in a breakaway. In 2025, she will still be in our team and will certainly continue to grow".
What Bepink will we see next season? "We will continue to focus heavily on young athletes, something we've done since our team was born and will continue to do. Finding and valuing talents is something I like, it's stimulating. Our mission has always been to grow athletes, to propose a project to accomplish together. Next season will be the same. In 2025, we'll still have a Continental license, but the goal we're working on is to become Professional in 2026".
The creation of a Professional category in women's cycling is somewhat of a "revolution". How do you think things will change from January?
"We are moving towards equalizing the female movement to the male one. With the introduction of Professional teams, women's cycling will also move towards 'professionalism': team costs will increase because more staff will be necessary, and the athletes' salary budget will also rise. I think 2025 will be a transition year; currently, the rules regarding competition participation, invitations, and the calendar have not changed. I believe the true change will be seen starting from 2026".
Regarding the calendar, have you already planned the season for "your" girls? "We are working on it. We will certainly have a medium to high-level activity. We already have many invitations, and for this, we thank the organizers who increasingly often demonstrate appreciation for our project and our way of working. I cannot yet be precise about when we will debut in a race; we are planning everything, but our 2025 could start from Spain".
Meanwhile, the approach to the next season continues. "Yes, the girls are already working, and in a few days, we will meet in Bergamo for a first training camp and tests. Not forgetting that Casagranda and Grassi are engaged in some track competitions to find the right pedaling technique for next year's commitments"
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