The shape of the eyes is a common somatic trait that doesn't lie. When you find yourself in front of Franco Balmamion, born in 1940, and his niece Anita Baima (whose grandmother was the sister of the great Canavese champion), a certain particular resemblance also expresses a family bond that reflects the cycling tradition of the family, opened by Ettore Balma Mion (it was written that way, separated).

Born in 1907 (and active from 1931 to 1933) in Nole Canavese, like Franco, in short a century before Anita, born in 2006 and let's round it out because there would be 99 years of difference...«

I advise her to have fun, without rushing things, even though I know well how today's cycling is rather precocious, whether male or female. In our era – recalls someone who won his first Giro at 22 and the second at 23 years old – there was a minimum age limit of 21 to turn professional, which in 1961 I had the opportunity to take advantage of because I was born in January».

Together, Balmamion and his niece, pleasantly read (we brought it to Ciriè so as not to show up empty-handed) a newspaper article from "La Stampa" relating to Franco's first Giro, finishing second behind Poblet. The article serves as a vivid representation of how much the Subalpine newspapers (including Gazzetta del Popolo) were pleasantly accustomed to increased circulation on the occasion of prestigious results.

«You see, it's written here, my mother Giovanna and my sister, your grandmother, Michelina (who passed away just a few months ago, editor's note) that day came down from Nole and went up the hill, to Colle della Maddalena. It was the only time they were present in person, so great was the fear that I would fall: they didn't see me in the sprint near Torino Esposizioni, one of the symbols of Italia '61, when I was beaten only by Poblet. What a hailstorm that day!». 

Anita listens, before posing with her great-uncle in front of the Endless Trophy presented to Balmamion on the occasion of the former Canavese rider's entry into the Hall of Fame of the pink race.

«Hearing his stories stimulates and makes me proud, for me he is above all a person full of advice and teachings since when I raced among the very young, guided by my father as a sports director».

And adds the promising cyclist in her second year among the Elite: «yes, I confirm: it may also be a matter of genetics if I've managed to achieve certain competitive satisfactions that drive me to set new goals for full maturity».

It's a story from just a few days ago: in the ranks of Isolmant-Premac-Vittoria, the name Baima appears on the starting list of the Sanremo Women, turning back the clock to Balmamion's third place in the Classicissima of 1965. Races and recurrences, 61 years later. Entry into the Fiamme Azzurre, the logical consequence of results achieved on the track (two golds and three bronzes between 2023 and 2024 at junior level in world championships 'elimination' and Madison): gives momentum, doesn't it?

«I can plan my commitment as a track cyclist with the national team in the best possible way, where being part of the group of more experienced athletes has given me a lot. As a sprinter, on the road, I found a team that offers me a robust calendar of high-level races, allow me also the emotion of finding myself alongside so many champions on occasions like the Sanremo, even if then I don't have models to inspire myself from» specifies the former high school student from Ciriè, who studies psychology, for whom the next Giro could represent a moment of approaching the stated objective of entry into a World Tour.

Franco listens, deliberately ceding the scene to his niece, awaiting a gym session after her bike ride: «Women's cycling has made giant strides, in my time I remember that the most prominent Italian women were able to participate in the World Championships on two occasions, in Salò and Imola». In front of the framed pink jersey and the showcase of prizes won during his long career that began at Bianchi and ended at Scic («always in very strong teams»), Balmamion delivers a barrage of memories, always filtered by his way of not being a character at all costs. It ranges from a vintage Adorni in winter retreat at Mottarone («for Vittorio Cupid struck...») to lesser-known episodes, yet still today the subject of conversation between Franco and Italo Zilioli, a brotherly friend and another prominent figure of the last golden season of two wheels branded Turin.

«Italo? The yellow jersey he wore at the Tour de France makes me a participant well beyond the fact that he was at Faema-Faemino of a certain Eddy Merckx and I was at Salvarani. But there are other memories linked to the Grande Boucle, not only because in 1967 I finished third in the final classification. That year with Italy B we also wore the yellow with Polidori and I'm pleased to recall how among my teammates there was also my fellow countryman Franco Bodrero, who left us at only 27 years old in 1970».

Episodes like that of Polidori are present in the memories of those who were not crushed by the label of the regular who won the tours without winning a stage. Anquetil, Gimondi, Merckx above all: Balmamion, who was also a witness to the advent of such stars, does not shy away from the parallel between Cannibal and Pogacar:«“phenomenal the Slovenian, like Eddy, even though comparisons across different eras are difficult». With abundance and seriality the file «that time when...» is opened and the other, the 86-year-old makes a time jump and takes the remote control: «come on, let's watch the Coppi and Bartali».