"Passion never dies, it evolves". This is the phrase with which Stefano Giuliani wanted to close a long message posted on his social media a few weeks ago, and it is with these same words that we want to begin our account of the long conversation we had the honor of having with the experienced technician, manager, and organizer from Abruzzo.

A professional from 1983 to 1991 with jerseys from Gis, Supermercati Brianzoli, Chateau d'Ax and Jolly Club 88, with 2 Giro d'Italia stage victories in his curriculum, since 1996 he has led numerous teams until arriving at Monzon - Incolor - Gub, with which this year he raced around the world, winning, just recently, with Kristiāns Belohvoščiks the second stage of the Tour of Guizhou Eco-Province.

Giuliani, as he had announced a few weeks ago with his social media message, confirmed to tuttobiciweb that he will close his team, and he also offered us many points of reflection and gave us some additional information about the next challenge awaiting him: further growing a prestigious race like the Matteotti Trophy, which he organizes.

THE REGRET OF CLOSING MONZON - INCOLOR - GUB. "I am truly very sad and sorry for the guys. It is not in my nature to give up, I have always fought to give my athletes a chance and help them. In these years, I have 'conquered' the world with international and multi-ethnic teams. I focused on a calendar that would allow my athletes to showcase themselves, adapting to the changing times, always creating a professional structure and providing everything that was needed. Now, all this is no longer sustainable".

CYCLING MUST BE EXPERIENCED WITH ENTHUSIASM. "I am convinced that cycling must be experienced with enthusiasm. My idea of cycling cannot be separated from the human relationship: a technician must talk to athletes, sit at the table with them and spur them on, transmit serenity and enthusiasm. In my teams, I have always worked this way, pushing my guys to fight even for intermediate sprints. However, current cycling seems 'flattened' to me, people race for fashion".

SATISFIED WITH MY ATHLETES' RESULTS "The 2025 season of Monzon - Incolor - Gub is positive: the other day Kristiāns won in China and in June he won the bronze medal in the Lithuanian road championship (behind Skujiņ& of Lidl Trek and Neilands of Israel - Premier Tech, ed) and in the time trial. We also made the podium in the national championships in Finland and Romania with Malinen and Ovidiu".

GROWING THE MATTEOTTI TROPHY "The closure of the team, as I said, greatly disappoints me, but I cannot and do not know how to stay still, so I am already working on the 78th edition of the Matteotti Trophy, I want to grow the event. For me, it is the race of my heart: as a child, I used to go and applaud champions and collect water bottles, then I had the fortune of racing it as a Professional, coming close to success several times, I experienced it multiple times as a Sports Director, and now I am honored to be its General Manager and president of the Fernando Perna Cycling Union, the Society that organizes it. I want the event to grow and become even more important. Passion, competence, and experience to do this are not lacking".

MANY SIDE EVENTS AND INVOLVING CHILDREN. "It is essential to involve the youngest, we did it this year and we will do it again next year. We must passionate them, distribute gadgets, bring them closer to cycling. Recently, children are increasingly distant from riders, and instead, I want them to be an integral part of the event. We are thinking about a series of 'Waiting for the Matteotti' appointments, without forgetting the extremely important issue of safety".

A GREAT CAST OF PARTICIPANTS. "Next year, the goal is to have a high-level cast of participants. In today's cycling, we know how important logistics and organization are, and the fact that the Matteotti Trophy is scheduled for September 13th, immediately before a stage race like the Giro d'Abruzzo, I hope will help us have many champions at the start".

THE WOMEN'S MATTEOTTI TROPHY. "The will to organize a women's event is there, we'll see if the conditions are right to do so".

A POSSIBLE RETURN TO THE TEAM CAR. "A proposal has come from Romania, given that for ten years I have 'invested' in the growth of Romanian athletes. Honestly, I have not yet had the time and opportunity to discuss it in detail. Of course, only a very valid and highly motivating project would make me change my mind".