History repeats itself when talking about races. Franco Polti is there, with his childlike energy, with dreamy eyes that shine with emotion. At his side his wife Teresa and Francesca, his daughter and also CEO of the steam and cleaning company, but also of aroma, since for a few years now in Bulgarograsso (Co) they also produce beautiful coffee machines with single-origin capsules (Solo, ed.).

Franco Polti is there, with that iconic yellow-green jersey (those who want it can buy it: limited edition, Tofit.net) which is new and modern, old and current: colors from the Nineties, logo and sponsors of today. Tomorrow everyone will race in this jersey known throughout the world, as a tribute to history. A tribute also to Gianluigi Stanga, absent for more than justified reasons (namely unavoidable family commitments), but he has felt and coached his boys over the phone, as always. The boys are Gianni Bugno (with the yellow-green jersey he won a Flanders, the Loreto Aprutino stage at the Giro and one at the Basque Bike) and Mauro Gianetti (a Liège-Bastogne-Liège, an Amstel Gold Race, twice the Montjuïc time trial, plus a Spring Classic, a stage of the Criterium International, a Japan Cup), Ivan Gotti (a Giro d'Italia) and Mirco Celestino (Giro dell'Emilia, a stage and the final classification of the Regio Tour, Coppa Placci, Hamburg Classic and Lombardia), up to Beppe "turbo" Guerini (a stage at the Route du Sud, two at the Settimana Lombarda, one at the 1998 Giro, the one at Selva di Val Gardena).

An iconic jersey, which was then conceived by Franco Polti and Pietro Rosino Santini "and I must thank the entire Santini family, who gave us the clearance to put it back in the group and celebrate a love for cycling and for our sport, on the day of the Sanremo that opens a new season", says Francesca, who for the occasion also involved a prestigious team partner like Fineco, represented by Stefano Amadei and Marco Rossi.

A new season that opens with the first Monument, on the first day of spring. There is no music from the Dik-Dik, but the words of a family that has always loved cycling. "The idea was born on the roads of the Giro – Francesca Polti recounts -. Many athletes came to our motorhome with that Nineties jersey. Ivan threw it out there: you know you can race twice a year with a different jersey? You just need to ask the UCI for permission".

A seed sown, a plant that bears its flower. It is a jersey that smells of history, but it also carries dreams with it. "If there's something to think big about, we do it", Francesca says. "We'll definitely do well…", Ivan replies more cautiously with Fran Contador at his side.

"This team, this family has been an example and inspiration for me. From Franco and from Mrs. Teresa I learned so much – explained Mauro Gianetti, team leader of UAE Emirates -. Francesca is today the right synthesis of her parents: Franco's enthusiasm combined with her mother's practicality. I am what I am also thanks to a team like Polti". Then an anecdote. The 1996 World Championship in Lugano, the one won by Museeuw right over Gianetti. "For me that world championship was branded Polti, but I would have left at the end of the season – Mauro recalls -. There were three races left. One day Stanga confided in me that at a certain point in the race, seeing me in a breakaway with Johan, Franco asked him: "Gigi, but if Mauro wins the world championship for us is it a good thing? ...". It's a good thing Franco, it's a good thing…".

"Our team was a family, I couldn't ask for better", assures Gianni Bugno. Beppe "turbo" Guerini echoes him: "I dreamed of winning at least one stage at the Giro d'Italia and I succeeded at Selva di Val Gardena, beating none other than Marco Pantani, who that day wore the pink jersey for the first time. Today that image, that finish, is my WhatsApp status".

"I have to thank the Poltis because they always remember me – says Ivan Gotti -. A passionate owner, a team-manager like Gigi Stanga more than a team-manager: I learned so much from them".

"A team of strong values, with great vision for the future. I was born here and trained, I grew up and achieved so many satisfactions", adds Mirko Celestino.

Franco Polti wanders, moving nervously through the hall of the Mulino della Frega in Lardirago, a meeting point of feelings and history. Then Francesca calls him with Ivan Basso to speak and he's the usual Franco.

"Tremendous emotion, an amazing gift my daughter gave me. The jersey? I wanted it this way, it had to be seen from a distance", be recognized. The writing: Team Polti. The noun Team is mine too".

Ivan speaks of "great responsibility: racing in this jersey is a privilege to honor". Francesca Polti also speaks of the company team, which "will take to the field" also at Sanremo. "We did it last year at the Giro and it was a very successful experiment. Involving our employees, from managers to office workers, passing through workers too was a beautiful operation. I simply asked: do you want to explain the Polti reality to cycling enthusiasts? The response was overwhelming. At Sanremo too the company becomes a team, together with the team".

Sometimes they return, with a jersey that smells of the past, but tastes damn new: timeless.