What started about a year ago as a bet has now become more successful than ever and is literally shining. Last night, on the occasion of the 142nd birthday of the champion from Induno Olona who won the first Giro d'Italia, the revived society celebrated 2025 with many friends, sponsors, and especially with the board of directors. The team founded by Luigi Ganna in 1913 has always represented a great Italian excellence, with champions like Ottavio Bottecchia, Pino Cerami, and Fiorenzo Magni, who won a Giro d'Italia wearing the Ganna jersey.

"This entire project started from a great passion and a shared dream of returning to our roots. I admit it was a very ambitious idea, but I found courageous people who believed in it from the beginning. The Team Ganna wasn't born with us in 2025, but in 1913 with Luigi Ganna. We've returned to our origins and restarted from 1953 when the team ceased its activities. In a historical period where we risk forgetting about the youngest, we decided to bet on them, to believe in children who chase the dream of cycling." Said Stefania Bardelli, who was indeed fascinated by Luigi Ganna's figure, also due to a distant family connection. First, she told his story with her book "40.405" and then assembled a team that shared the same values. The goal was immediately to follow the origins, starting, as tradition for Ganna, with a single rider: Luca Stocco. The young 10-year-old athlete pedals following his idol Tadej Pogacar and has already distinguished himself in races of his category with some beautiful victories. These results make the many sponsors and president Andrea Stocco proud, who was one of the first to believe in Stefania Bardelli's project. "It's exciting to see the room so crowded, I'm happy to have supported Stefania in this project," said Stocco. "Luigi Ganna was a great champion and a pride for us from Induno Olona. His activity wasn't limited to being an athlete; once off the bike, he started building them and became an entrepreneur. Honor to characters like him who wrote our history."

The evening brought together many friends of the Induno Olona team and was an opportunity to award some of those who supported the project from the initial stages. The historic Lazzati prize was awarded to the Giro d'Italia d'Epoca and collected by Silvio Martinello, while Fabio Aru and his Academy dedicated to young talents received the Fair Play Econord award. During the evening, there was also a moment to remember Michele Scarponi, with his foundation receiving the Combativeness award for their commitment to defending sports values and road safety. The timeless champion award went to Paolo Savoldelli, the great guest of the evening. "In my career, I experienced many exciting moments like my double Giro d'Italia victory. One of the most emotional memories as a professional was when I completed my first Tour de France: it was 1996, and once I crossed the finish line on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, I knew I had made it. However, if I were to find my most special memories on the bike, I would go even further back. When you become a professional, everything becomes work, and you often tend to forget what you've won. Instead, when you're kids and make your first bike pedal strokes, everything is magical, and those are indeed the victories that have remained most in my heart," said Paolo Savoldelli. The two-time Giro d'Italia winner in 2002 and 2005 immediately became passionate about the Ganna project and was among the protagonists of the "pedal with luisin" format, where great champions accompany young Luca Stocco during a training session. Giacomo Nizzolo did the same, also present at the evening with Marco Tizza.

Barely having time to celebrate the first year of activity, the Team Ganna is already thinking about a 2026 full of many novelties. The roster of athletes expands with the arrival of the very young Ambra Patelli, 8 years old, who will join Luca Stocco, while former pro Simone Zucchi is the new sports director. The big news, however, is represented by the launch of the cycling historical event "La Vaganna", which will have its first edition on July 12, 2026. This is an ambitious new project that will allow participants to discover the beauties of the territory, but above all, the figure of Luigi Ganna.

(photo Carlo Monguzzi)