The province of Lecco renews its commitment to youth cycling, investing and betting on an Italian movement that needs strong structures to progress. Last night in Bulciago, the provincial committee presented the fifteenth edition of the Lecco Province Criterium, a competition divided into four events reserved for first and second-year beginner categories.

The event will involve the province of Lecco (and beyond) from April 12 to May 1 and will be an important community and sporting occasion for all young riders taking their first pedal strokes. "When I was elected provincial president in 2009, I set two major goals: staying close to the clubs by supporting them and reviving the Lecco City Criterium, turning it into a provincial event. I'm proud to have succeeded, and it feels special to see the celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the provincial committee and the 15th of the Criterium. I share this satisfaction with the involved clubs, with 8 different organizations alternating over the editions, renewing their commitment to supporting youth activities," said Lecco Provincial Committee President Alessandro Bonacina, emphasizing the importance of local sports clubs working actively to help young people grow and become passionate about cycling. This year, four clubs are involved: Uc Costamasnaga, Polisportiva Aurora Brian Val, Gs Alzate Brianza System Cars, and Gs Arrigoni Arredomarket.

The criterium opens on Saturday with the 6th Dino Petrella Trophy, an individual time trial of 2.1 km organized by Uc Costa Masnaga and, unlike other events, will also be dedicated to Beginner and Junior Women. The route will cross the municipalities of Valmadrera and Malgrate and will be valid for the provincial time trial championship. The following day will see the second event, the 17th Riva Logistica Criterium organized by Polisportiva Aurora Brian Val in Olgiate Molgora. First-year beginners will cover 25.6 km, increasing to 35.8 km for second-year beginners. For the third event, the location moves to Como province with Gs Alzate Brianza organizing the 8th BBC Brianza e Laghi Trophy on April 27, valid as the provincial championship. The program includes 27.6 km for first-year beginners and 34.5 km for second-year beginners, a category dominated last year by Riccardo Longo, who later won the Tuttobici Oscar. The event concludes on May 1 in Bulciago with the Gaetano and Mario Arrigoni Grand Prix - Iberi.co Trophy, which serves as the Lecco provincial championship event. First-year beginners will cover 27.4 km, while second-year beginners will ride 33.4 km.

The presentation evening was also an opportunity to emphasize the importance of youth cycling and road safety. "For the Lecco province, it's a great pleasure to provide patronage to this event. It's not just a collaboration on paper; we are all passionate, and in my family, we follow bicycle races. I know how difficult it is to support sports as a municipal administration. We must support our young people not just with words but especially by ensuring road safety. In this criterium, many clubs are equipped to have safe and compliant routes, and Bonacina himself is personally involved in guaranteeing not just spectacle but a safe race for everyone. I realize this is an extremely current and difficult topic to address. Many parents are justifiably afraid to send their children onto the streets, and our commitment must be to ensure safety not only during races but also during training, as that's where most accidents occur. It's an aspect often underestimated but that should concern all first citizens. Beyond the services we offer, we should ensure road maintenance to make them safer and more accessible to everyone," said Alessandra Hofmann, President of Lecco Province and Mayor of Monticello Brianza.

Among those present were representatives of the involved clubs, Norma Fumagalli, councilor of the Lombardy Regional Committee, Arif Messora, president of the Como Provincial Committee, and Antonio Molteni, president of the Ghisallo Museum, who will gift the first 10 finishers in each event with a museum entry to help all young riders learn about the history of this magical sport.