HONOR ROUND. DAGNONI: «I STILL DREAM OF THE SIX DAYS». MALAGO': «THANK YOU, CYCLING!». PICCHI: «HAPPY IF HE IS RE-ELECTED».

POLITICS | 20/12/2024 | 16:43
di Pier Augusto Stagi
Continue to grow is not just a wish, but also the claim that Cordiano Dagnoni has chosen for this electoral campaign, which has already begun and will continue until January 19, the day of the final reckoning, where we will count to elect the new number one of Italian cycling. Continue to conclude is what he says between the lines, but not too subtly, because the work has been started and there are many things to finalize, in a particularly complicated moment for our sport, especially here with us. "Although many of the initiatives undertaken have already produced tangible results, some projects require further work to be completed. It is with this awareness that I present an electoral program aimed at giving continuity to the work done. My goal is clear: consolidate the successes achieved, enhance every aspect of the Federation and introduce innovations that will allow Italian cycling to grow further."

He spoke today at Palazzo Lombardia about the 454 medals won in the 2021-2024 period (compared to 284 in 2017-2020), and the president discusses this in his program deposited in the Federation, which we will publish in the coming days as already done for Lino Sechi and Silvio Martinello, but on this occasion we leave space for the questions that were asked at the end of the assessment of this four-year term that is coming to a close.

"I worked for several years in investment banking, so seeing the numbers, the balance sheets, and hearing the precise explanations provided by the president was a privilege," explained Federica Picchi, Undersecretary for Sports and Youth in Lombardy. "I appreciated the loyalty of your president who shows the numbers very clearly. And of these numbers, I like to highlight the growth of young members, and I am delighted about this because this is a priority for everyone. It goes without saying that I would be happy if the national president could still be a Lombard."

"I am clearly grateful to cycling, for what it has done in these years and, not least, at the Paris Olympics, where your sport gave Italy 10% of the medals won (40)," explained Giovanni Malagò, the head of Italian Sports, who was passing through Milan for a press conference on the progress of work for Milano-Cortina2026, did not fail to bring his greetings, both in the press conference and at the Honor Round. "In this challenge, it's beautiful to see the arm wrestling between two sports excellences: athletics and cycling. Athletics has won 68 Olympic medals, cycling 67. But when cycling wins a medal, it's weighty because it's gold: in fact, you are 36 to 24. The report card for this four-year period? More than good, I am very happy and very grateful for what you have done."

Then the floor passes to the journalists, with their questions.

In the next four years, in terms of medals, what can we expect from the many young talents who are growing? Do you believe these successes, these medals, can land on the territory and be a vehicle for promotion and vocations as is happening in tennis?
"These young talents emerging in great cycling are our hope for Los Angeles. The many young talents grown by Dino Salvoldi, who has reinvigorated the junior category, can only make us think that our future will be rosy. For the second question: it's true, a Sinner would be very useful to us. Jannick, however, is not just a champion, but also a personality. That's what we would need. If you'll allow me, I'll add something, a reflection on practitioners. I would like to soon have an individual card, with a modification of the Statute. From a Nielsen survey, our sport ranked third among the most practiced sports. First are gyms, second are runners, and then us, but the many practitioners who go on their little rides are not counted because they clearly do not belong to any society. We would like to count them, offering them a card that guarantees legal assistance and various discounts with important brands."

You talked about inclusion, but you did not dwell on female inclusion, not only competitive, but also technical and economic: what is your vision on this matter?
"I believe there is no great need to push in this direction, because it is a world that is now growing exponentially on its own with great speed. Now women's cycling, even in terms of compensation, is at a very good level. There is growth and a willingness to accompany this growth."

Excellent top-level activity; with Roberto Amadio, a World Tour has practically been created, but we have a problem with the Under-23s: historic societies are closing, and the UCI is going in another direction. What does the Federation think of doing to calm this situation, or is Under-23 activity to be considered lost?
"We know that the junior category is highly exasperated and everyone goes there to draw from. I am convinced that there is another Remco Evenepoel. Pogacar, for example, did one year as Under-23. The fact that many go to race abroad in World Tour teams is more of an economic than a strategic problem. We certainly need to carefully evaluate things and perhaps think about investments to safeguard our typically Italian activity."

At the beginning of his term, he talked about Six Days: does he surrender to the fact that in November and December the great champions drop out and therefore the project is no longer feasible, or does he still aim for it? A second question: twenty years ago, there was talk of betting for track activity: has the project been definitively shelved?
"For the Six Days, I can tell you that at the beginning of my term it was under the 'dream' category, but it was only deferred for objective reasons. The goal is to do a Six Days at the Palazzo delle Scintille where this type of race was born, but talking to my City Life friends, I was told and assured that the palace will be ready in September 2025. Unavailable riders? When I talk about Six Days, I always have the availability of many athletes and athletes, because the Six Days will also be female, but the most comforting thing is that when talking about an event like this to sponsors, they all seem very available." (For the record, on betting, President Giovanni Malagò responded, saying he was more than favorable, a "way to integrate resources").

He made a photograph of four years of presidency rich in medals and satisfaction: is there a photograph he carries in his heart that is the image of this four-year period? And is there a blurry one that he would have liked to do better?
"More than a photograph, I would speak of a puzzle, because it is a set of many successes, the result of the work of many people. Something may not have worked, and as president I must have the strength to face it, but on occasions like this I must also have the courage to distribute credit to those who have given us and worked so that these great emotions are today celebrated and remembered."