The Tour de Langkawi is the race of the Italians, and it's not just us saying this, but rather the record held by Italian athletes and the affection the public has for them - just look at how fans observe the athletes or how they position themselves next to team vans eager to see something more. Even foreign colleagues do nothing but talk about us, or rather the tight battle between Italian teams to secure a spot in the top 30 of the ranking, and especially between Vf Group Bardiani Faizan and Solution Tech, the fight is truly down to the centimeter. While Dutch and Australian newspapers present here try to paint it as a battle to the last drop of blood worthy of a great epic, a look around is enough to understand that it's not the only objective and it's not necessary to spit blood.

Mirko Rossato and his VF Group guys are experiencing the Tour de Langkawi as an important test of their form, but above all as an opportunity for growth and exploring new territories. If until a few years ago racing on the other side of the world seemed totally prohibitive, the Malaysian trip has now transformed into something absolutely normal and unmissable in every rider's seasonal routine. "In recent years, Asian races have reached an incredible level. If before they were only a destination for small teams, now even World Tour formations arrive with well-structured teams ready to win as much as possible. There are many experienced riders, they are no longer simple second-tier races, they are true fixed appointments on the calendar. I remember when I came to Malaysia as a rider, over 20 years have passed, and it was nice to return as a sports director with many young guys ready to learn," Rossato explains, who as a rider had managed to grab two stages in a single edition. It's somewhat surprising to think that one stage ended exactly where yesterday's stage started - we discover this by chance, and when we tell him, he starts laughing. Certainly, the past is often destined to return. Many years have passed since those successes, perhaps it was a different cycling, a different way of racing, but what hasn't changed is the enthusiasm of the Malaysian people who continue to be fascinated.

Many things have changed in a race that is becoming a mirror of the new cycling advancing from the other side of the world, which we often forget about. "The days are simple only in appearance, and there are various Asian teams trying to upset the balance, just like we do at the Giro where we try to get into every breakaway to showcase ourselves. For us, it's absolutely normal, while for them it's the highest point of the season, their opportunity to compare themselves with professional cycling and try to race alongside the great champions," continues Rossato, who provides a clear reading of the Malaysian race where his guys are meanwhile obtaining excellent placements not only in the top ten but also on the podium. Besides him, the staff consists of 2 mechanics and 3 masseurs, some directly from Malaysia and now accustomed to working with the team. The choice to have loyal local people is part of the strategies implemented by the team to best experience Asian trips and also interact with the population.

The objective of VF Group Bardiani is to obtain an excellent result, starting with the sprint with Enrico Zanoncello, who in three days has managed to obtain fifth, fourth, and third positions, as well as in the general classification. The upcoming stages are the decisive ones, and with today's queen stage at Fraser's Hill, all eyes are on Luca Covili and the duo Edward Cruz and Martin Santiago Herreno. The two Colombian athletes are yet another intuition of the Reverberi family, whose goal is to help them grow and guide them into professional cycling. Herreno has already achieved a good placement in the Milano Rapallo, but on the legendary Malaysian climb, there could be an opportunity to make a big move. Returning to the points issue, most are concentrated in the final classification, so reaching the top ten is more than fundamental. But it's not the only ground to watch out for, as there are the CRO race and Italian races that promise great battles.

While our colleagues continue relentlessly with their calculators for calculations down to the hundredth, we prefer to see the more romantic side - that of a team that, just like us, has set out to live a unique experience. Among the 7 Italian athletes racing, 4 are from VF Group Bardiani. The public applauds them, supports them, and is ready to see them in action.