MERIS AND ZAMPERINI, TWO YOUNG TALENTS WORTHY OF AN OSCAR

TUTTOBICI | 26/12/2024 | 08:31
di Giulia De Maio
They are two of the most interesting talents in Italian cycling: Edoardo Zamperini and Sergio Meris closed 2024 on the tuttoBICI Oscar stage, from which they see a future still to be written but already promising. The first was the best Under 23 of the season and earned the Visit Malta Grand Prix, the second was the most consistent Elite of the year and, having secured the Jayco AlUla Grand Prix, is ready to take flight among professionals. Both are heading to France: Edoardo, 21 years old from Grezzana (VR), this year defended the colors of Trevigiani Energiapura Marchiol and moves to the Development team of Arkea B&B Hotels, while Sergio, 23 years old from Gorle (BG), thanks MBH Bank Colpack Ballan CSB and tackles the big leap with Unibet Tietema Rockets.

AN OSCAR NIGHT
EZ: "I'm happy to be back participating in your awards ceremony, after winning the Oscar in 2019 among the Allievi. This time I arrived with a different maturity, at 16 you enjoy the moment but at 21 you appreciate the context more. Today I understand the importance of the place where the ceremony is held and I give it much more value. Every year I've had a gradual growth, I still have room for improvement but I show more tranquility in facing everyday problems. Perhaps I should learn to enjoy life more outside the bike during the season and not just in winter, for the rest I'm satisfied with the path that allowed me to place a second tuttoBICI Oscar on the shelf in my room where I keep my most important awards."
SM: "I'm extremely happy because this is the most coveted award in Italy and for me it's the first of my career. If I were to meet my childhood self, I would tell him it was truly worth it. To get here, it took a lot of commitment, but I would do it all again. Cycling is a school of life, it's a difficult and tough sport, but it teaches a lot and anyone who loves it can't do without it. I'm a calm type, who doesn't mind 'living the life' of a cyclist. I like training, resting, and enjoying the small things. We're often far from loved ones, so when I can, I dedicate time to them. The Oscar is for my family, every member is fundamental. A special mention goes to my maternal uncle Gino, who since I was little has traveled many kilometers to come and see me race. I started competing as a G1, and even though 16 years have passed, I still have the photo that immortalizes me in my first cycling jersey."

THE KEY SEASON
EZ: "The year about to go into the archives was perfect until the Ronde de l'Isard, a race where I fell and broke my left collarbone in four points. In January I had been at high altitude on Etna and started well, performing strongly in the international spring races. After the injury, I spent the year 'chasing', the operation itself brings some imbalances, recovery between one training and another is more tiring because the body is busy healing. After the Giro d'Italia I should have taken a break, instead I pushed on and got sick when I was in training camp preparing for the Tour de l'Avenir. The Italian title won on June 23 in Trissino was the greatest joy, along with the call that arrived from France shortly after."
SM: "I instead didn't start the year at my best due to a knee problem, at the Coppi&Bartali Week - after achieving encouraging results - I fell, but then I rolled up my sleeves, in Livigno I properly prepared the second part of the season where I rediscovered the right pedaling stroke. I obtained four victories and managed to be present in national and international races. The cherry on top was the call from a professional team. In the Elite category, we all aim to find a contract to move up, there's a lot of tension, we seek results in every race, but obtaining them is never simple. Once I signed the contract, I truly felt accomplished."

A GRADUAL PATH
EZ: "Compared to when I won my first Oscar, today I'm definitely more mature and 100% focused on the bike. After graduating from the Copernico Scientific High School in Verona, I've (at least for now) lost the desire to study and no longer venture on the track. I've quit velodrome activities because my body isn't suited. However, my family's support hasn't changed: mom Laura and dad Fabio weren't cycling enthusiasts, but when I was 5 and asked for my first bike, they supported my desires, commissioning a custom model from Cicli Tagliaro because I was too small for those on the market. Always through the shop, we came into contact with Officine Alberti Val d'Illasi, the team where my brother Alberto, who will move to Under 23 in 2025, also started."
SM: "I started racing at 6 with the Ciclo Team of Nembro, following in the footsteps of my older brothers. Mario, the eldest, raced two years in Colpack before dedicating himself to studies, now lives in Dublin and works in the economic world; Francesco is a biomedical engineer and stopped after his first year as an amateur. Our parents always followed us, never forcing things. Mom Marianna and dad Livio are now both retired so they can follow me live in many races. My brothers came close to professionalism, now that I've managed to make cycling a job is a satisfaction for the entire family. Regarding studies, I'm five exams away from a degree in Food Sciences at the San Raffaele University in Rome. So far, I haven't put pressure on myself, but I've tried to balance cycling and online lessons, also because studying helps me lighten my mind from competitive objectives."

THE IMPORTANT NEWS
EZ: "In 2025 I'll race with the Development team of Arkea B&B Hotels. I aim to accumulate experience abroad, improve my English, and learn from the Northern European culture. The team managers have assured me that I'll be one of the beacon riders for mountain races, I want to repay their trust in me. I want to improve in international races what I did this year, make myself available to the team when I have the opportunity to race with the World Tour team and earn a professional contract. Looking further ahead, I hope to be able to participate in the most important stage races, namely Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, Vuelta a España, and climbers' classics like Liège and Lombardy."
SM: "For my first year among pros, I've set the goal of building good relationships, getting along with everyone, and working for more experienced teammates. Teamwork makes the difference and when I'll have to do the 'dirty work' of a domestique, I'll be happy, convinced it will help me grow. Obviously, I'd like to achieve good results personally, but especially at the beginning, I won't get discouraged if others are stronger. At Unibet Tietema, this will be the new team name, Simone Roganti was supposed to join, who was struck by a fatal sudden illness last August. I never had the pleasure of talking to him in person, but everyone describes him as a wonderful guy. He remains one of us, but it breaks my heart to think that we won't be able to live this adventure together."

THE FUTURE
EZ: "To pursue my professional dream, perhaps going abroad wasn't essential, but personally I had an opportunity and I seized it on the fly. Leaving Italian cycling, I want to thank all the teams I've ridden for, in our movement there's still a lot of good, just grow calmly and everything will come eventually. A mention obviously goes to my family, who are always there. Thinking about the future, as I said in the interview for my first Oscar a few years ago, what's certain is that the bike will be with me for life. No matter what happens, the love for two wheels will never end, I can vouch for that."
SM: "Just thinking about participating in certain races and alongside the champions in the group today gives me goosebumps. Two years ago at Coppi&Bartali, I rode with Mathieu Van der Poel and was impressed by the energy he emanates, he has a particular aura, let alone Pogacar, Evenepoel, Van Aert... Looking further ahead, I dream of participating in the three grand tours and obtaining a significant victory. A race like Strade Bianche fascinates me, and then all the tough classics like Liège and Flanders, basically the same races that Edoardo has in his sights. Good luck to us and to all young Italians!"

from tuttoBICI December issue