A year ago he weighed 80 kg and no one wanted him, today he wins among professionals in the Petrolike jersey. José Prieto last Sunday gave the Mexican team its eighth seasonal pearl at the Gp Kranj in Slovenia, proving that this small Continental team is the right place for rough diamonds that major teams do not consider.

In a cycling that runs faster and faster and demands ready athletes, José, like his twin brother Antonio, Pan-American U23 road champion and silver medalist in time trial, would not have had a chance in Europe without Marco Bellini. Instead, at 21 they are gaining experience in a highly respectable international calendar and demonstrating their potential.

How is this possible? Thanks to the work they are doing with their teammates under coach Fabrizio Tacchino. "After 4 years with Androni Giocattoli by Gianni Savio and Bellini, where I developed the Coach Team Assistant to support the team, which at that time won the Coppa Italia uninterruptedly, when Bellini called me I immediately accepted returning to the world of cycling. Not only because I know Marco from when we used to ride together as kids, actually he was riding and I was chasing him, but because I know how he works. The coaches who used to work with me are currently working for the Track National Team, proving that historically this is a serious group," the Piedmontese technician who has been collaborating with the Triathlon Federation since the Paris 2024 quadrennial tells us.

Tacchino subjects the young Mexicans hired by Petrolike at the end of 2024 to physical tests, including the Prieto twins, who initially struggle to finish races, but looking at the numbers it is immediately clear that they have great room for improvement and should be confirmed. The numbers are there along with some extra weight. "They were excessively heavy, so during the winter we worked not only on strength and metabolic aspects, but also with nutritionist Cristiano Caporali to provide them with a food culture and get them to the first races at 72/74 kg. These guys have no preconceptions and are still discovering themselves, they want to arrive, professionalism is changing their lives. Both Chato and Tonio, as José and Antonio are nicknamed, are gaining awareness race after race and are gradually demonstrating their value," Tacchino continues.

Credit goes to the Team Petrolike strategy, which offers them a calendar that is 80% composed of stage races mostly .1 and Proseries Category. "We race a lot, also because they must learn to race. We use the Coaching Peeking platform which is useful to get feedback from each athlete on how they are and how each training went - Tacchino concludes. - This is not a Continental team like those we are used to in Italy, I would compare it to a Professional team because here athletes truly compete with professionals, they have an important showcase at their disposal and can seize results that matter. For young people, even from our country, who want to get noticed, it's a golden opportunity."