Among the many truths that emerged from the last Giro - starting from Albania is a good deal but a sad spectacle, the points philosophy has now distorted the founding idea of cycling to race only for victory, a route with two and a half weeks of ease and three deadly mountain stages is at least unbalanced, the Giro, besides losing champions, prestige, respect, is also losing audience along the roads - beyond these verdicts, there is one that at least consoles us: for the grand tours, we are not completely at zero, we have Giulio Pellizzari.

Obviously, we are at the dawn. At the signals. But no one can deny that we are leaving the Giro better than we entered. That is: we entered with Ciccone and Tiberi, the first once again struck by misfortune and the second still to be reviewed. Initially chained to the role of caretaker for Roglic, according to the signed and therefore unmodifiable agreements, our young rider nonetheless found a way to impose himself. Most of the time, he gave the clear impression of being even better than his team leader, although he always loyally performed his task, without seeking cunning or cowardly moves (added value). Then, once freed from the captain's withdrawal, he did something of his own. His pedaling and intelligence, no one could suffocate those, neither before nor after: Pellizzari is gritty, agile, alert. Naturally, he is at the beginning of his work, he still has much to do and learn, but his level is promising. He is not just anyone. Already now he gives us fantasy, hope, a future. We desperately need this, at the very least we must believe in it.

Incidentally, thinking about Pellizzari, it comes naturally to me to remember how his growth trajectory is a precise response to those who recently ask disdainfully what small teams are for. To this, to the Pellizzaris, and before to the Ciccones, small teams are necessary. Both of them grew and blossomed in the acclaimed Reverberi team, which may always depend on the Giro's lips to get an invitation, but has essentially provided the Italian movement with two of the very few presentable pieces at the highest levels. The know-it-all says: Ciccone and Pellizzari would bloom the same even in a big team. Maybe, but I'm not sure. Without apprenticeship and sidewalk, without workshop and training, something is missing in any profession. Unless your name is Pogacar, for whom Mother Nature thinks of everything.

Where Pellizzari can go, what he can do, obviously no one knows. It would be stupid here to sell him as the Italian answer to Pogacar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel; he is still too far. But Pellizzari is our consolation and our lifeline, because at least he allows us to hope and imagine, already a lot in the era of great depression.

Unfortunately, given how things have turned out, it is no longer possible to invoke the classic arsenal that has always accompanied young riders. The kit of caution and reticence is obsolete, made outdated by the very green revolution of the new era, based entirely on childhood age. The Pogacars, Evenepoels, Del Toros, all these nice people at 21 - Pellizzari's age - already seem seasoned, in terms of strength, courage, lucidity, personality. Pellizzari appears more behind, which sounds like blasphemy, but that's how things are. It is understood, however, that he still has his whole life ahead, so no anxiety and no rush. Let's say he's finishing his studies, he has taken his maturity and now can go well prepared to university. Bastardly severe professors await him, but he has all the qualities to pass his exams without falling behind. At certain levels, no repetitions or recovery courses are provided. He just needs his team to assist him with the best scholarship: the freedom to try, risk, and above all, make mistakes.

from tuttoBICI of June