And now? Now we hope they find the strength and the will, above all the will, to find a meeting point and a way out, to come out of this as best as possible, for the good of a movement that doesn't deserve this feud, this minuet that benefits no one. A one-on-one that doesn't add up to two and risks reducing us to zero.
The suspension of the Convention of August 13, 2024 is a bolt from the blue, but not entirely unexpected (note in the margin: without the convention, total blockade of League-signed activities). For months, if not years, there has been bad blood between the Italian Cycling Federation and the Professional Cycling League. It's no secret that between the president of the Cycling Federation Cordiano Dagnoni and his counterpart at the League, Honorable Roberto Pella, there is no "correspondence of affectionate sentiments." To put it bluntly, the two are cordially (not in the sense of Cordiano) at each other's throats. To spare your sensibilities further, we can summarize that Cordiano Dagnoni accuses his League counterpart of not respecting him. Of being constantly overridden, of not being treated for what he is: the president of the Italian Cycling Federation. In response, Roberto Pella counters with facts, translated into fundraising, race organization, and agreements with national and regional bodies, and so on. In short, each has their own reasons and both remain firm in their positions. In the middle are we, those of us in the cycling world, who already struggle to organize races, keep teams afloat, and find funds to do one and the other.
The Federal statement speaks for itself and I'm reproducing it in full for you, hoping that you understand and that, in the meantime, the parties decide to take a step forward to try to find an agreement of civil coexistence and mutual convenience. If this doesn't happen, at the next Federal Council meeting scheduled for Cavenago on June 22 next, I think what could happen is something that should not happen, but which is imminent, given that it is close at hand: a commissioning of an associative body that could even be shut down. And this will not be painless, this cannot happen without unruly and painful reactions: for everyone.
Subject: Communication of suspension of effectiveness of the Convention of 13.08.24 Dear President,
I hereby inform you that, having consulted the Federal Council as a result of the League's serious breach of the provisions of the inter partes Convention of 13.8.2024, it has been decided, with immediate effect, to suspend the effectiveness of the same pending the final decisions that will be adopted at the next Federal Council meeting scheduled for June 22, 2026.
The delegation regarding the Italian Professional Time Trial and Road Championship, respectively on June 25 and 27 forthcoming, remains valid, given the already advanced state of the organizational phase.
I must point out that it has been established that the League, without having obtained authorization from the FCI within an agreement with RAI - Italian Radio Television, negotiated the transfer of rights for the Italian Women Elite Championship event (scheduled for June 28 forthcoming) which is the exclusive competence of the FCI.
This behavior, together with what has already been noted with other previous objections, demonstrates, in our view, a clear intention not to respect the painstakingly reached agreements, forcing the Federation to adopt the consequent necessary measures to protect federal activities.
I remain at your disposal for any clarification. Best regards.
The President (Cordiano Dagnoni)