Mattia Cattaneo took the stage last night at the tuttoBICI Awards to receive a prize created for the 30th anniversary of tuttoBICI. The rider from Bergamo was awarded as the best "team player" of the year, a definition that goes beyond the simple role of a domestique, as Cattaneo himself - honored by former professional Nicola Miceli, owner of ACM Asfalti, who strongly wanted this award - explained well in his speech.

"When I was young, I was a bit like Finn, then I had some problems and was good at understanding what my role in cycling could be. I thank tuttoBICI and Nicola Miceli for creating this award thinking about us who are not winning champions, but champions in another way. My strength is always being able to put myself at the service of my team leaders, especially Remco Evenepoel in these years and for the next three seasons. It's rare to find riders who are ready to give 100 percent for their team leaders, because ultimately anyone who does sports has the spirit of a winner, but I try to do it and I admit that this award makes me proud."

And we find the same emotion in Mattia's words in those of Nicola Miceli: "I confess I'm a bit emotional in christening this award, and I'm convinced that this idea will be appreciated because athletes know how to grasp the sense of effort, sacrifice, and dedication that have always represented the soul of a domestique."