PAOLO SANGALLI. "AT LIDL TREK I'M GETTING BACK IN THE GAME BUT I'LL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL TO THE NATIONAL TEAM"

EXCLUSIVE | 20/12/2024 | 08:33
di Luca Galimberti
December is a month of assessments. But also a period to define new objectives, plan new departures and new milestones to achieve. Paolo Sangalli, head of the Italian Women's National Road Team, has granted an interview to tuttobiciweb, speaking freely about past, present, and future.
Paolo, let's start with the recent past. What photo would you choose to describe the 2024 of your National Team?
"If I could choose just one photographic shot, I would say Longo Borghini on the World Championship podium with the medal around her neck. That image for me is the symbol of a season that Elisa interpreted as a protagonist, demonstrating her love for the Blue Jersey and her desire for redemption after the challenging day at the Paris Games."
Talking about shots, Longo Borghini's move five kilometers from the Zurich finish line made all Italians dream, and then...
"When Elisa took off, I was sure in the team car that she would win... then an unexpected tactic by the Dutch changed everything. Cycling is also this, we must accept it. The happiness for the medal was still immense."
Let's continue the photographic game. What other images would you put in the album of this blue season?
"Elisa Balsamo proudly showing the silver medal won at the Europeans and Eleonora Gasparrini smiling after being awarded the bronze medal at the U23 Europeans in Limburg. In the album, I would also include many group photos, moments that are not easy to capture from the outside, not necessarily race moments but fundamental ones. The group is the foundation of everything."
Explain better.
"Cohesion is a distinctive trait of our National Team. Everything starts from dialogue and clarity, the clarity of roles and tasks that each rider must perform for the good of the group. Another ingredient that has never been lacking in these years is the great willingness to work and help each other. The National Team is based on these pillars, from Juniors to Elites. This is what team means to me."
A team formed not only by athletes. Marco Villa, interviewed by our Giulia De Maio, publicly thanked you, all the technicians, and the National Team staff for their collaboration.
"Very true. Even among us technicians, there is a lot of collaboration, we compare notes and work excellently together with collaborators and staff members. We are a team within the team."
Villa has declared: 'Waiting for the new four-year cycle, I continue as I am used to.' How are you facing this period?
"I've done what a coach always does at the end of the season: prepared the programs for the Women's National Teams for the next year. However, this is not a winter like any other, as from January 2025, a new challenge with Lidl Trek awaits me."
After the rumors of recent months, you are officially confirming to tuttobiciweb your move to Team Manager Guercilena's squad.
"That's right. After fifteen years in the National Team staff, I've decided to get back in the game. I greatly respect Luca and Josu Larrazabal, the performance manager of Lidl Trek. Joining their staff is very stimulating for me. I'm ready to start again."
Will you have a specific role in the organization?
I'll be part of the technical staff and, as is customary at Lidl Trek, I'll work with both the women's team and the men's group depending on needs, programs, and races. Additionally, I'll be responsible for scouting for the women's formation."
What will be your first commitments with Lidl Trek?
"I'll start in January with the training camp the team will have in Spain."
When will you make your debut in the new team car?
"I can't answer that right now. During the training camp, the programs for athletes will certainly be defined, and consequently, those of the technicians."
Let's take a moment to review the balance. In three years as coach, you've brought Italy to the podium eleven times in titled competitions. Are you satisfied?
"I'm satisfied with what we've all done together. As I said before, the National Team is a group and results must be shared. I'm happy with the medals obtained, from the first conquered by Barbara Guarischi at the Mediterranean Games, to Longo Borghini's bronze in Zurich, passing through those won by Guazzini, Balsamo, Barbieri, Persico, Gasparrini, Ciabocco, and Venturelli. But may I add something?"
Of course.
"Numbers and medals are important, we work for that, but not only. For young athletes, especially Juniors, the National Team can, and must, be a moment of growth, international experience, and a passage to the highest level. That's why I don't want to forget the results achieved in races like Watersley Ladies Challenge, Omloop van Borsele, Ronde van Vlaanderen Junior, Tour du Gévaudan, or Tour de l'Avenir Femmes."
You talked about beautiful moments, what about difficult situations?
"There have been some, certainly. What I regret the most is not always being able to work as we would have liked due to athletes' injuries. I don't want to talk about bad luck, falls are part of cycling, but during my years as coach, injuries to Balsamo, Bertizzolo, Longo Borghini, and Cavalli occurred, which forced me and my staff to wait and sometimes modify the plans I already had in mind. However, I emphasize that overall, I am extremely satisfied and very honored to have led the Azzurre."
What do you hope to have left to the National Team during your years as coach?
"I have always focused on the exchange of ideas, on dialogue. My main objective was to create a serene environment in which to build successes together. I hope I succeeded."
Is there a particular thank you you want to make?
"After fifteen years in the Blue Group, the thanks are truly many. I must thank President Dagnoni, who entrusted me with the National Team's helm, and the federal managers who have followed one another over the years. I must thank the technical staff members and those who were by my side: mechanics, masseurs, osteopaths, the psychologist, nutritionists. I cannot forget the Federation employees and those working in the office. A big thank you to everyone for these years spent together."
What will you bring to Lidl Trek?
"The experience gained in these years in the National Team environment, but also a lot of curiosity and desire to start again in a new environment. I'll arrive 'on tiptoe', first of all observing. I want to get to know and adapt to then be as useful as possible to Lidl Trek."
What do you wish for 2025?
"That it will be a good year for Lidl Trek, with both the men's and women's teams at the top of the rankings. Then it will mean that with my new colleagues, we will have worked well."