Dear Editor, I carefully listened to the interview given by Rai Sport Vice-Director Andrea De Luca to BlaBlaBike on tuttobiciweb. First, I would like to compliment the podcast format and thank you and Andrea De Luca for the interest and attention dedicated to the European Championships, an event that represents a reference point for the continental cycling movement.

I have never wanted to respond to the various critical statements that, on several public occasions, Vice-Director Andrea De Luca has not missed the opportunity to direct at my role and the UEC's activity. I have always followed them carefully, waiting for developments and preferring direct dialogue. However, I believe the time has come to publicly clarify some points. I do not like doing this through the media, I prefer personal confrontation, but in this circumstance, it is necessary.

Regarding the overlaps between the European Championships and some Italian races, I want to clarify that, although I am Italian, I was elected representing 51 countries affiliated with the UEC. My role requires a broad vision that takes into account the entire European panorama.

The UEC calendar, with the date of the 2025 Road European Championships, was officially announced on June 12, 2024, after consultation with the UCI and the interested parties. The choice of date was determined by the one-week postponement of the Vuelta a España, approved by the UCI in agreement with the CCP and AIOCC, which also include Italian members and organizers. Subsequently, for example, ASO moved the Paris-Tours precisely to make room for the European Championship.

It was therefore not a unilateral decision. For completeness, I recall that this year the European Championships were held concurrently with other international races, including CroRace (Class 1), Münsterland Giro (Pro Class), or the Malaysia Tour (Pro Class) outside Europe, without this causing particular controversy.

With surprise, I also read the outburst of the Il Lombardia Under 23 organizer who claimed that entire teams like Arkéa - B&B Hôtels Continental and Tudor Pro Cycling Team U23 had renounced participating in the Lombardia U23 due to the Europeans. I point out that the Arkéa - B&B Hôtels Continental did not have any athletes at the start of the Under 23 European event, while the Tudor Pro Cycling Team U23 had three out of a total roster of 18.

De Luca mentions the Giro dell'Emilia, a race that, as an Emilian, I particularly love for its history and spectacle. Despite the overlap with the European Championships, it presented a start list and finish order that would make a monument classic envious, demonstrating the great value of the race and the organizers' passion.

Regarding the World Tour category, it is worth remembering that the UCI evaluates the dossiers submitted by organizers through their respective national federations and, if deemed suitable, approves the category change. Among the evaluation criteria are several requirements, including a principle of geographical balance: the UCI, in fact, takes into account the growing globalization of cycling. Some European nations like Italy, Belgium, and France, for example, would have numerous races that, for prestige, quality, and tradition, fully deserve to be part of the World Tour calendar, but the maximum number of events assignable per geographical area currently makes this impossible.

Regarding the alleged "damage" to Rai, it should be noted that UEC events enjoy Eurovisione coverage, which has acquired the international rights. Rai, as a Eurovisione affiliate, has full access to signals and programming. As an Italian and a public television user, I note with regret that, every time we receive updated schedules from Eurovisione, Rai's often appear partial or missing, due to incorrect communications.

The latest case, in chronological order, concerns the live broadcast of the Women's Elite European Championship, for which Rai had communicated to Eurovisione a live window of only 15 minutes. It was necessary for us to intervene through direct personal contacts to obtain the actual information about the broadcast. Obviously, an "Italian-style" solution, but not in line with normal procedures.

I conclude by informing that the UEC has promoted, after recent meetings in Kigali (Rwanda) with FCI President Cordiano Dagnoni and Secretary General Marcello Tolu, a strategic meeting scheduled for November 24th with UCI and FCI. The objective will be to work on long-term international calendar programming, particularly for the 2027 and 2028 calendars.

That will be the venue for a constructive confrontation and to share concrete proposals in the common interest of European cycling, and not just Italian. It will be a technical table reserved for the designated institutions, which will also include FCI President Dagnoni, as a CCP member, and in which the UEC, through myself, will have the role of mediator and coordinator of the work.
 
As you have certainly noticed, the 2026 calendar has already been finalized, as well as the program of the Road European Championships in Ljubljana (Slovenia), which will be held from October 3rd to 7th, 2026 with a program that includes Saturday, October 3rd: Junior Men's and Elite Women's Road Races, Sunday, October 4th: Junior Women's and Elite Men's Road Races, Monday, October 5th: Under 23 Men's and Women's Road Races, Tuesday, October 6th: Team Mixed Relay (Elite and Juniors) and Wednesday, October 7th: Individual Time Trials (all categories).

Dear Editor, thank you for your attention and the space granted, and I hope to have shed light on this controversy, in the conviction that confrontation, when based on facts, remains the best way to grow our sport.

I conclude by thanking Andrea De Luca for the passion, commitment, and efforts he dedicates every day to giving visibility and value to cycling, not just Italian, in all its disciplines.

Enrico Della Casa
President of the Union Européenne de Cyclisme