It was known, but until he decided to speak about it directly himself, that intrusive friend, it was right to remain silent. Respect the silence of Roberto Amadio, coordinator of the Italian national teams until his appointment as head coach of the professionals last November, a decision that raised eyebrows among many, because they didn't know. Because we always start from a prejudice: that whatever the Italian Cycling Federation does, starting with Cordiano Dagnoni who is its president, is always strictly wrong. If journalists write poorly, they're unscrupulous and approximate people, it doesn't matter that today the Agora of the world is much worse and passes judgment at its own pleasure without knowing, understanding or having a shred of a source.

Let it be clear, no gift from Dagnoni, but an act of great respect towards a man, a technician and a friend who is going through a very delicate moment and certainly couldn't carry forward such a broad and complex job, that of coordinator and Italian team manager. The priority was and is to get treatment, something that Amadio is doing without neglecting his mission, that of head coach of the professionals.

I met him in Sanremo, in the company of his faithful Mario Scirea, and I found him in good shape and confident about how his treatment is progressing and how Italian cycling is moving in this early season. Ah, there were also those who raised their eyebrows at the compensation to be paid not to just one Italian manager anymore, but to two: Roberto Amadio and Elia Viviani. In truth, Dagnoni and General Secretary Marcello Tolu solved the issue not with a multiplication of loaves and fishes, but with a simple division: with one salary they pay two. The budget figure remains the same. I know, I've been too much of an optimist, the Italian Cycling Federation should be beaten with a stick by default to be credible, to pass for just and intellectually honest. Perhaps to be truly so, one should also say something positive every now and then. Especially because, like it or not, that's exactly how things are.

DOPING ADDICTS. Ugh, Pogacar always wins. Ugh, Van der Poel always wins. Ugh, Vingegaard always wins. Ugh, but how much fun are we having? A lot. Personally, to death, and to those who don't have fun with these pedaling prodigies and improvise as scholars of human sciences, shooting blindly that today cycling is against every law of physiology, I could simply answer that I stick to laboratory results and invite all learned doctors and wise men to look around and evaluate all of sport. Is it improving? Yes, always. Is the bar being raised in every sporting discipline? Of course it is.

Why is it only us in cycling who are always there doubting everything and everyone without ever letting ourselves enjoy the pleasure of seeing these guys practice such a high-level sport at the highest level? Paul Seixas holding the wheel of the world champion at Strade Bianche is a moment of great cycling. The Frenchman who gets dropped, resists and then conquers second place at 19 years old is the confirmation of a great in sport, who deserves applause, with a standing ovation like for a bicycle kick goal by Ronaldo or the incredible Olympic double by Federica Brignone.
Ecstasy and admiration, against doping addicts.

Editorial from tuttoBICI April issue