Pietro Solavaggione was born on March 23, 2008, and lives in Rossana, a tiny village with less than 1,000 inhabitants (precisely 833 by the end of 2024) located at the beginning of Varaita Valley in the province of Cuneo. The Solavaggione family consists of father Fabrizio, a 43-year-old painter and passionate mountain biker, mother Silvia, 43, a teacher, and besides Pietro, there's his younger brother Dennis, thirteen years old, also a mountain biker with the Vigor Cycling Team from Piasco, a Cuneo-based club.

Solavaggione has always practiced mountain biking since he was little and only truly approached road cycling last season (when he was a second-year Allievi) wearing the Vigor Cycling Team jersey. Immediately a protagonist, he was able to achieve two victories, both in the Turin area: Rocca Canavese and Osasco. He also secured some important placements like 3rd place at Ghisallo, 4th in Lugo-San Marino, and 13th at the Coppa d'Oro in Borgo Valsugana, an important international showcase for the Allievi category. With fat wheels, Solavaggione managed to climb onto the national podium in 2022 when he took the third step at the Italian Esordienti Championship.
From the next season, he will defend the colors of the Team F.lli Giorgi, the authentic Bergamo powerhouse of the Juniors category, with the unbeatable duo composed of patron Carlo Giorgi and sports director Leone Malaga.For Pietro from Cuneo, in his third year of business high school at the "Carlo Denina" Technical Institute in Saluzzo, it is an honor, but at the same time a huge responsibility to defend those colors.

Would you define yourself as a climbing specialist or an all-rounder?
"I feel more like a climber, when the gradient increases I always feel better: from 7/8% upwards I feel at my best".
From mountain bike to road, why this choice?
"I achieved some very good national placements in MTB, but I decided to race on the road looking towards the future since I'm more interested in this discipline. In my first road season, I had many important placements, but I think I could have done much better: in some circumstances, I paid for my lack of experience in this type of racing. Being only in my first year on the road, I often made mistakes in race tactics, losing important positions, like for example at the Coppa d'Oro where I think I could have easily finished among the top 7 at the finish line if I had raced better. I think, and hope, to make a significant quality leap here at Team Giorgi, also with the help of teammates who are of the highest level."

It's a common belief that those coming from off-road can then, once they understand race dynamics, handle the bike better on the road...
"I agree. It definitely helps, and even when riding in a group you feel more secure, you know how to avoid sudden obstacles and surely have more reflexes. Undoubtedly, my mountain bike experience has helped me on the road".
Why did you start with mountain bikes?
"Dad Fabrizio transmitted the passion to me, I started cycling with him, then as a kid I raced a few small races and continued".

You've joined the Team F.lli Giorgi squad and are about to debut in the Juniors category, which becomes more challenging every year. Do you think it will be a pure apprenticeship year or will there be a way to become a protagonist?
"We'll see. The first months will definitely be difficult to adapt to a higher level, much more challenging compared to the Allievi category. Then, once I've gained some confidence with this new world, I think I can try to aim for some interesting results for the team and for myself".

Looking at the packed Juniors calendar, is there a race you like, that is a sort of dream in the drawer?
"As a race, I absolutely love the Piasco-Lemma, which is practically the climb near my home. It's just one kilometer from my house, and that climb I know by heart as I do it practically every day. From 2025 it becomes a national race, so even more important, and I really want to make a good impression".

Is there a professional rider you particularly like and are inspired by?
"There are many. It's obvious to mention Pogacar, but I respect indiscriminately all those who make it to the professional level. I'm inspired by all of them to hopefully become a pro myself one day. Even those who aren't among the strongest deserve a lot of respect because they've reached the professional level, and that's already a great achievement".

In Rossana, they are so few that everyone knows each other, and competitive athletes can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Pietro Solavaggione nurtures within himself the dream of becoming the first climber from his town to reach the professional ranks. A category in which Piedmontese cyclists boast illustrious names, just two will suffice: Fausto Coppi and Costante Girardengo...