Bringing the Vigorelli velodrome back to its former glory? Difficult, just considering it's outdoors and 400 meters long. But making it a "cycling house" steeped in history yet projected into the present, a venue for cycling events and rides, where you can learn to ride a bike or cultivate your daily passion away from metropolitan traffic... that can be done. And fortunately, there are people who want to do it.

One of them is 58-year-old Alfredo Zini, a restaurateur always active in multiple fields, including sports and cycling, with collaborations with both RCS and FCI: this year, as a board member of Milanosport, the municipal company managing Milan's public sports facilities, he's responsible for the "definitive restart" of the facility dedicated to Antonio Maspes, in close collaboration with the Vigorelli Velodrome Committee. So that, in addition to the oval ball traveling on the field, track bikes can start racing around it with increasing regularity.

«It would have been a shame to renovate the track (the last restoration was in 2021 and was celebrated with the start of the 2022 Milan-San Remo ed.) and not use it properly: the Beppe Sala [mayor of Milan] administration wanted this relaunch and now it's up to Milanosport, from an organizational-managerial perspective, and Vigorelli Velodrome Committee for the technical-sporting aspect, to help reignite the passion of a city that needs safe contexts for cycling - says Zini -. We're focusing especially on youth and amateur activities, which, as in the rest of Europe, are an integral part of cycling and make an important contribution to the cause. Moreover, between City Life and Corso Sempione (where Milan's RAI is located) this is an office area, and it would be nice to become a popular option for lunch breaks like spinning, etc.»

Yes, because starting from March 3rd, the Vigorelli will be open every Tuesday and Thursday from 11 am to 6 pm (weather permitting) to members of Italian Cycling Federation members or any Sports Promotion Entity, and to anyone with a competitive medical certificate. For a half-day the entrance fee is 10€ per athlete. If you don't have a track bike, local rental will be around another 10€. In addition to the legendary red spruce wood track, there are changing rooms with showers, bike storage and a bike workshop. This is added to the Vigorelli's status as a Territorial Track Center, which allows cycling clubs to have their riders train in the velodrome with federal coaches and instructors, at a cost of 100€ per athlete valid for the entire season. And in the heart of summer, with hot temperatures and absence of american football and mini-rugby, the intention is to remain open until 11 pm.

Four youth races have also been scheduled: April 23rd, May 7th, 14th and 21st. Together they'll form the Milanosport Challenge, with specific final rankings, and will be a joyful lead-up to the Giro d'Italia stage from Voghera to Milan on Sunday 24th, during which the Vigorelli will turn pink as you can see in the cover photo above.

This is just the beginning, the launch of a blender of ideas and initiatives. Zini explains: «We are scheduling cycling Open Days, events from bike world companies, book presentations on cycling themes, an interactive exhibition dedicated to the Giro d'Italia for the 80 years since the Giro's restart from Vigorelli after World War II and the 30 years since the passing of patron Vincenzo Torriani. We'll establish a synergy with the Ghisallo Museum, with mutually hosted opening events. We intend to hold bike courses and especially road safety education for children under 7, the pre-competitive age, and organize Lombardy and national track championships in the not-too-distant future. A lot of meat on the fire that will be possible to realize thanks to sponsors who decide to invest in the tradition, value and potential of Vigorelli. Two sector companies have already done so and have their own space inside the facility: Masi (steel bikes) and Specialized. Last month, the major race organizers worldwide visited the velodrome during the AIOCC Council in Milan; the goal is to be a reference point not just for Milanese but for all enthusiasts!»