The "Cycling Laboratory Oratory Summer Camp Road Safety on Bicycle" project was recently presented in Lissone, promoted by the Provincial Committee of Monza and Brianza Federciclismo, which this year again sees young people attending Oratory Summer Camp activities as protagonists. After the presentation, tuttobiciweb caught up with Chiara Mariani, the Provincial Committee President, and asked her some questions.

President, the "Cycling Laboratories" are once again in the spotlight, an event that is becoming increasingly rooted in the Monza and Brianza territory.

"I am truly proud of this project. Together with my advisors Fabrizio Ghisotti, Giuseppe Confalonieri, Simone Gasparello, and Davide Recalcati, I strongly wanted to propose the 'Cycling Laboratory Oratory Summer Camp Road Safety on Bicycle' project, continuing on the path that my predecessor Marino Valtorta had opened four years ago. Year after year, the project has grown, and from the four oratories initially involved, we have now reached eighteen".

The BCC of Carate and Treviglio is always by the committee's side.

"The bank has believed in and embraced the social and training project from the very beginning, helping us grow it over the years. For this, I thank Dr. Ruggero Redaelli, president of BCC Carate and Treviglio, and executives Massimo Valsecchi and Pierluigi Brenna. Thanks also to Ruggero Cazzaniga, president of the Monza and Brianza Cycling Societies Consortium, who is the reference and coordinator of the Cycling Laboratory Oratory Summer Camp Road Safety on Bicycle project, Lombardy Federciclismo President Stefano Pedrinazzi, and the institutional representatives who were present at the presentation".

Speaking of Societies, how many have joined the project?

"There are eight: Mobili Lissone, Lissone MTB, MTB Cogliate, G.S. Cicli Fiorin, Velo Club Sovico, Giovani Giussanesi, Pedale Agratese, and Brugherio Sportiva. Thanks to the availability, competence, and passion of many people, we can bring bicycles to the Oratories".

As they say in these cases, "unity is strength".

"It's true, we tried to involve various local realities and having the availability of so many volunteers is no small feat. And I can anticipate that thanks to the collaboration between the Societies, new projects will soon emerge".

What's cooking?

"Have patience, we'll tell you everything at the right time".

Let's focus on the "Cycling Laboratory Oratory Summer Camp Road Safety on Bicycle". How do the Laboratory activities take place?

"From these days until the first week of July, Society volunteers will meet the boys and girls from the Oratories twice a week and will offer them theoretical lessons focused on Road Safety, bicycle safety, and mechanical maintenance, as well as playful moments: there will be no shortage of routes and obstacle courses. Where possible, boys and girls will be given the opportunity to try both road bikes and mountain bikes".

 The project has an exceptional testimonial, Gianni Bugno.

"Exactly, Gianni is a reference point in our sport, and having him by our side is an honor. During the presentation, he reminded everyone that the bicycle must first and foremost be a game and make us have fun. His words encapsulate the message and purpose for which the project was born: to bring bicycles to Oratories to entertain the youngest without forgetting rules and safety. In addition to Bugno, I want to thank Sara and Matteo Fiorin, who were born cyclists in Brianza and are now growing, demonstrating their value in higher categories. Hearing them say they would have wanted a 'Oratory project' when they were young filled me with joy. Now that project in the Oratories exists and can be useful to many children".