From Matera, the city of Sassi and UNESCO World Heritage site, the Italian delegation is taking shape for the Road Cycling World Championships in Montreal, scheduled for September 20-27. In the setting of Casa Cava, one of the symbols of recovery and rebirth of the city, the athletes selected by the federation's technical staff for the world event were presented today.

This is the first time that the presentation of the Italian National teams ahead of a World Road Championships has taken place in Southern Italy. The initiative is part of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Italian Cycling Federation and APT Basilicata, signed today, which provides for a series of activities aimed at promoting cycle tourism and enhancing the Lucanian territory through cycling.

The press conference was attended by FCI president Cordiano Dagnoni, vice presidents Carmine Acquasanta and Stefano Bandolin, general secretary Marcello Tolu and members of the federal Council, which met in Matera this morning. During the proceedings, greetings were brought by the mayor of Matera, Antonio Nicoletti, the president of the IV Standing Commission of the Basilicata Regional Council, Nicola Morea, the Sports Assessor of the Municipality of Matera, Giuliano Paterino, and the regional coordinator of Sport and Health, Matteo Trombetta.

The names presented today constitute an expanded roster of 47 athletes from which the starters will be defined who will actually take part in the individual events.

On the occasion of the Canadian World Championships, Spazio Azzurri returns, the home of Italian cycling abroad. Located in the same hotel that will host the federation's delegation, it will be open from September 20-27 and will represent a meeting point for press, guests and representatives of the sports and institutional world.

The project was made possible thanks to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, ICE-Agency, the Abruzzo Region, the Province of Trento and the Federation's partners.

DAGNONI: "A MOVEMENT THAT CONTINUES TO PRODUCE RESULTS"

"Italian cycling continues to achieve results in all disciplines. With the three medals won last night at the Para-Cycling World Championships, we have surpassed 100 medals during this season, with several important appointments still to come. It is a significant figure, also because it does not include the successes achieved by our athletes in World Cup events and those won with their respective teams. I'm thinking, for example, of the results achieved by our professionals this season and the growth of a new generation that is gaining international attention. We have achieved successes that had been missing for some time, such as the extraordinary results in track sprinting and, as far as road cycling is concerned, Lorenzo Mark Finn's double victory, winner first of the Giro Next Gen and then of the Tour de l'Avenir.

We therefore arrive at the Montreal World Championships with confidence, aware of the value of our athletes in all categories. I thank the Basilicata Region for its hospitality and for wanting to undertake with us a path aimed at promoting cycling and the use of bicycles. I hope this institutional moment can become the first of a long series."

ITALIANS AT THE MONTREAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

TIME TRIAL

Women Elite – Sunday, September 20
Vittoria Guazzini
Elisa Longo Borghini

Men Elite – Sunday, September 20
Mattia Cattaneo
Filippo Ganna
Matteo Sobrero

Men Under 23 – Monday, September 21 (2 riders)
Alessandro Cattani
Nicolas Milesi

Men Juniors – Tuesday, September 22 (2 riders)
Enrico Balliana
Patrik Pezzo Rosola
Andrea Tarallo

Women Juniors – Tuesday, September 22 (2 riders)
Maria Acuti
Azzurra Ballan
Matilde Rossignoli

TEAM RELAY – Tuesday, September 22

Men
Mattia Cattaneo
Filippo Ganna
Matteo Sobrero

Women
Vittoria Guazzini
Elisa Longo Borghini
Monica Trinca Colonel

ROAD RACES

Women Under 23 – Thursday, September 24
Eleonora Ciabocco
Gaia Segato
Giada Silo

Men Juniors – Thursday, September 24 (5 riders)
Enrico Balliana
Alessandro Battistoni
Brandon Fedrizzi
Luca Gugnino
Nicola Padovan
Patrick Pezzo Rosola
Andrea Pierotto
Guido Viero
Marco Zoco

Women Juniors – Friday, September 25
Maria Acuti
Azzurra Ballan
Giorgia Pellizotti
Matilde Rossignoli

Men Under 23 – Friday, September 25 (6 riders)
Roberto Capello
Alessandro Cattani
Davide Frigo
Federico Lorello
Mattia Negrente
Mattia Proietti Gagliardoni
Enea Sambinello
Matteo Scalco
Simone Zanini
Nicolas Milesi

Women Elite – Saturday, September 26
Francesca Barale
Sara Casasola
Eleonora Gasparrini
Elisa Longo Borghini
Erica Magnaldi
Silvia Persico
Monica Trinca Colonel

Men Elite – Sunday, September 27 (8 riders)
Alberto Bettiol
Mattia Cattaneo
Giulio Ciccone
Lorenzo Mark Finn
Giulio Pellizzari
Davide Piganzoli
Christian Scaroni
Matteo Sobrero
Matteo Trentin
Diego Ulissi