Their extraordinariness lies precisely in this: by reading, informing themselves, being "nerds" with the - presumptuous - goal of being amateurs who go faster than professionals, they ultimately succeeded.

The crisis of Italian cycling is not represented by the tricolor jersey that won't be seen in important races, nor by the disinterest of our aces (excluding Milan and Covi) in competing for the national title, as if it no longer had value. The real crisis is something else.

It is absurd that a group of enthusiasts with zero budget manages to accumulate enough skills and knowledge to surpass many other more organized and structured teams - more "institutional".

The crisis of Italian cycling is a crisis of skills.

1. Technical and Scientific Competence

The first is a technical scientific competence. Here I am not talking about professional teams, good mechanics, and excellent technicians and sports directors operating in the World Tour. I am talking about youth categories: juniors, under 23.

I am talking about many teams that rely on unpaid volunteers to train and race young people. These are agile structured teams, without trainers, nutritionists, biomechanics adequately trained to help young people make a qualitative leap and put them in a position to become the next Remco, Ayuso, Del Toro who at their age were already treading international stages. Juniors are indeed today's gateway to professionalism. But in many cases, those who should teach them how to race are not updated on what it means to be a professional in 2025.

This underworld is totally left to its own devices. Some teams are strong, organized, and achieve results. Many other riders could be missed talents simply because they ended up in the "wrong" team.

There should be research and training paths, sponsored by the federation, solid and cutting-edge, with a circulation of technicians between professional and youth categories. This works in basketball, volleyball, tennis. Let's apply it to cycling as well.

2. Organizational and Communication Competence

The second is an organizational communication competence. It's fine that not everyone can have the white body like SWATT, but the sponsor model on the jersey to raise funds is old, defunct, and absolutely needs to be revised.

Cycling is a sport based on advertising. Yet large Italian industrial groups do not invest in teams. Why do companies that put hundreds of thousands of euros in Giro-E then do not pay anything to those racing the real races?

Answer: today many teams have such an old and sad image that no one wants to be associated with them. The federation should help teams find sustainable funding paths and facilitate the entry of wealthy sponsors, both at pro, under 23, and youth levels. Only with money in hand can we escape the world of volunteerism and help our youth teams make a qualitative leap.

This essentially means teaching teams to communicate better, create a brand and build a community around it. In other words: to be attractive to advertising investments, the true fuel of this sport.

In summary: science and communication. The two great opportunities that Italian cycling must seize to become great again. Last Sunday, the federation had the winning model right in front of them at the Gorizia finish line.

The path to follow is clear. Now it's time to pedal.

Gilberto Riaresi