He was the flag bearer at the Tokyo Olympics with Jessica Rossi. He is the symbol of the rebirth of Italian track cycling. A sort of Peter who laid the first stone for the reconstruction of the track sector that in recent years has generated Ganna, Consonni, and Milan, although Elia Viviani is considered the "prophet".

The 35-year-old Verona champion has been many things: a track and road man, a hunter of stages and medals, as well as jerseys, those of world and European champion. A man who opened, united, and educated a new course, that of multidisciplinarity: how track cycling benefits road cycling. He said it, he did it, and he proved it with results.

Eighty-nine road victories, with five stages at the Giro, three at the Vuelta, and one at the Tour. A Hamburg Classic and a GP de Bretagne, an Italian and a European title. On the track, the Olympic gold in Omnium in Rio, the bronze in the same specialty in Tokyo, and the silver in the Madison with Simone Consonni a few months ago in Paris. Two golds, two silvers, and two bronzes at the World Championships, plus eight European titles. In short, an absolutely valuable palmares.

A week ago, Cordiano Dagnoni, a sixty-year-old Milanese manager (from Limito, ed.), was confirmed as president of the Italian Cycling Federation. A clear victory, despite "exit polls" giving him as a sure loser against Silvio Martinello's candidacy, a former professional, Atlanta gold medalist, and now a state network commentator. Martinello entered the "conclave" at the Hilton hotel in Rome Fiumicino like a Pope and came out a cardinal, in the most ancient tradition of those who know long before the vote count.

For Dagnoni, these are important weeks, animated by reflections to be made and decisions to be taken before bringing them to the scrutiny of the new Federal Council. A women's coach needs to be chosen (Marco Velo is in pole position), after Paolo Sangalli's resignation to join Lidl Trek, and the professionals' coach. Will Daniele Bennati stay? Perhaps, but it's not certain. The suggestive idea is precisely linked to the name of Elia Viviani, who these days is deciding what to do next. Retirement from racing is more than probable: on the verge of 36 years (he'll turn 36 on February 7th), he hasn't yet found a contract that satisfies him, but his former team, the British Ineos could decide to include him in their technical staff, but if that doesn't happen, here comes the offer from the Italian Cycling Federation. A role as national road team coach with an eye on the track. The flag bearer of a movement - the road one - that is in crisis and needs to be rebuilt, from the first brick. He may not be Peter, but we are dealing with the "prophet".

from Il Giornale