Yesterday she said goodbye to her dad along with all the people who loved him, and today she is racing. Andrea Casagranda has fulfilled Stefano's last wish, who passed away at just 52 years old last Wednesday, October 1st, by taking the start at the Giro dell'Emilia.

With a heart full of pain, she found the strength to pin on her number, surrounded by the affection of her BePink Imatra Bongioanni teammates and her boyfriend Giulio Pellizzari, racing in the men's event with the desire to win a victory that already has a dedicated tribute.

In recent days, the 21-year-old from Trentino remembered her dad with a social media message accompanied by some beautiful images of the (too short) life they spent together: "Perhaps I wasn't yet ready for a life without you, but I hope to be strong, even if only half as much as you were. Thank you for teaching me how to live. Bye dad ❤️". Her partner, who saw Stefano as his reference champion for the energy he transmitted on and off the bike, celebrated him with a story featuring Stefano and Andrea in elegant attire, wishing him a good journey.

Yesterday at the well-attended funeral, Caterina Giurato, Stefano's wife and Andrea and Niccolò's mother, moved everyone by becoming the spokesperson for the late cyclist and manager's last wish, who had done so much for youth cycling with Veloce Club Borgo: "I have a message he left for his athletes and those from other teams. He asked me to tell you that on Sunday, no one should stay home. No commemoration, no moment of silence, just push as hard as you can on the pedals."

Today is Saturday, and everyone is already doing just that. For Stefano, and to feel a little less the absence that already weighs on everyone.