If Rome wasn't built in a day, a single deterrent can't bridge a country's cultural gaps in three and a half months. Even with the new Highway Code in effect, road user coexistence remains precarious, even in Italy's better-functioning regions. This week, Annalisa Benatti, sports director of the Trentino Women's Team (a team composed of Junior and Youth female cyclists, based in Villazzano: see photo) told Il T Quotidiano about the double misadventure that occurred last Tuesday during the team's training, in the same territory where Sara Piffer lost her life on January 24th.

Episode 1: "On the provincial road of Destra Adige, between Nave and Zambana bridge, a car at crazy speed nearly hit our girls, some of whom had to veer off the road to avoid the worst. I tried to follow the car, but the driver noticed and, after overtaking a vehicle stopped at the bridge's traffic light, escaped running the red light."

Episode 2: "On the climb from San Lazzaro to Meano, I was riding alongside the girls because they were shaken by the previous incident and thus felt more secure. Two drivers waited for the right moment to overtake us, but the third first honked, then shouted all sorts of things from the window, and finally got out and threatened us with horrifying insults! Too many people don't even wait a second, don't realize the danger of certain maneuvers, and don't think that real people are on those bikes - perhaps young people nurturing a passion amid many sacrifices. My athletes come from towns far from Trento, make enormous efforts with their families, and then find themselves risking their lives: cycling is a highly formative sport that can fascinate many people, but how can champions grow if those who pedal cannot do so safely?"

This testimony finds comfort, or rather a disheartening confirmation, in the article by lawyer Federico Balconi we published yesterday morning on the site: driving license revocations have increased by a third compared to the same period last year, but bicycle fatality numbers have remained dramatically the same. From our editorial team comes the utmost solidarity with sports director Benatti, her sports group, and anyone who risks their life daily for the love of cycling. To our readers and enthusiasts, we invite you to read (if you haven't already) lawyer Balconi's in-depth analysis.