It's been two years since Marta Bastianelli left the world of professional cycling, but she remains present in the group as a representative of the Italian Cycling Federation. She arrived in Darfo Boario Terme to support the Fiamme Azzurre sports group, with which she won the national title in 2018 and which now counts on Elena Cecchini, Letizia Paternoster, and Chiara Consonni.

"A lot of things have changed since I retired, but certainly not the heat," Marta Bastianelli jokes with us just before the race, and she's not wrong. However, since she hung up her bike, the women's movement has undergone a sharp and necessary acceleration. "It's nice to see how the movement has evolved," she continues, "it was a change that the movement needed, and I'm very happy. The evolution is already visible in what the girls will drink during the race, which is more important than ever with this heat. Our athletes, for example, race in three different teams throughout the year, so we've equipped just as many people to support them with supplies. Maintaining the same beverages is fundamental not only for sponsorship reasons but also at an intestinal level."

Marta, as usual, was welcomed with hugs from her former teammates and the entire Italian movement, for which she still represents an important flag. "It's always nice to return to the environment and talk with the girls; the warmth of a hug and a 'I miss you' is truly appreciated. But I'll be honest, I don't miss the hard work at all," she tells us jokingly. We ask her for her prediction of the day: "I hope one of our Fiamme Azzurre girls can do well. Last year, Chiara Consonni was on the podium, and you never know."