Manuel Pupillo is the youngest among the winners of the tuttoBICI 2026 Awards, yet he already races like a veteran, sets clear objectives and does everything to achieve them. His season was nothing short of perfect, 26 victories, a series of podiums and results in which he worked hard for his team. At just 13 years old, the boy from Cantello (Varese), registered with Team Senaghese Guerrini, already has clear ideas: he wants to pursue a cycling career and give his best without rushing, but his primary goal is above all to have fun.

Manuel loves training, racing against his rivals, but also the history that this sport carries with it. His adventure began at a very young age, he had been intrigued by his father Marco who cycled to address some knee problems and wanted to follow him. The G2 category in the Besanese team, his growth and first results, Manuel has captivated his entire family who now supports him in all races, from his mother Alice to his sister "manager" Sofia, not forgetting grandfather Stefano.

"I am very fortunate because I can count on incredible support. There are my teammates, the team manager Franco Tibaldi, my parents who take me everywhere to race, and my older sister who always takes care of me at races and has ended up helping the team—people say she's almost my manager. My grandfather Stefano has a fundamental role; this year he has become even more passionate and keeps track of all results and standings. He reads all Italian newspapers, watches races and takes notes in his notebook, it was he who kept the points for the tuttoBICI Award," Manuel tells us, confiding how this year, thanks to the support of the people who care about him, he managed to put the pressure aside and enjoy each race better.

From March to October, from the first to the last race, Manuel Pupillo's 2026 is a mix of unexpected emotions in which he also achieved the beautiful Italian national title. "The tricolor is definitely the most beautiful victory, I was feeling good that day, but I certainly didn't expect to win in that way. When they announced where we would race, I immediately asked my parents to take me to try the course, I was curious to know what awaited me even though I knew that in the race everything would be different. I wanted to do well and had already thought about attacking on the last climb, I tried it and managed to reach the finish line alone. It was strange and for a few days I couldn't believe it, I realized it when I saw banners dedicated to me in my hometown."

Manuel has the carefree spirit of the young yet like a true veteran leaves nothing to chance, he is fascinated by today's cycling but also by what no longer exists, by the myth of Bartali, by his crucial role during the war which, after a lesson at school, he wanted to explore further.

The thirteen-year-old from Cantello goes strong on all terrains, loves aggressive races and especially attacking. It's still too early to understand what kind of rider he wants to become and he doesn't yet dream of traveling in the professional world, he wants to fully enjoy his present. "For me it's still a game, I don't know what I can become, I just want to have fun. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks like me, many people have told me that during youth categories you need to hold back, stay hidden and save your successes for when you're a professional. I absolutely disagree, I believe you should enjoy everything, even races considered minor and for us younger riders, you never know what will happen next and I would like to have fun always," Manuel continues. While chatting with him there is also the team president Luca Ortolani Della Nave who gives us the image of a boy not only determined, but willing to help others and set new objectives. It's not just victories to aim for, but rather to improve as an athlete and as a person.

Even in winter Manuel can't seem to stay still, now that the road season is on pause he dedicates himself to boxing and has found an outlet in cyclocross. Last year he had to give it up due to a knee problem, but now he's back in the saddle already collecting two victories. Like his idol Mathieu Van der Poel, he loves multidisciplinarity because he believes it's important to be a complete rider and make a difference, meanwhile he's already succeeding in muddy races too. Next year he will continue to wear the colors of Team Senaghese Guerrini, the goal is to have fun and win again, but not only that. "I would like to help my new younger teammates," he tells us, "give a hand to understand how to read races and stay in the group. At the beginning of 2026 the older boys helped me a lot, they made me believe in my possibilities and it's only right to return the favor in some way."

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TUTTOBICI AWARD FIRST YEAR JUNIORS - HONOR ROLL

1997    Alessandro Calzolari
1998    Oscar Gatto
1999    Fabio Taddei
2000    Daniel Oss
2001    Marco Gadici
2002    Paolo Locatelli
2003    Gabriele Pizzaballa and Antonio Viola
2004    Matteo Draperi
2005    Luca Wackermann
2006    Eddy Scquizzato
2007    Francesco Castagnaro
2008    Riccardo Minali
2009    Manuel Masiero
2010    Andrea Zorzetto
2011    Emiliano Vichi
2012    Simone Buda
2013    Andrea Leoni
2014    Francesco Della Lunga and Mattia Pinazzi
2015    Francesco Calì
2016    Nicolò Costa Pellicciari
2017    Dario Igor Belletta
2018    Matteo Fiorin
2019    Franco Cazzarò
2020    Tommaso Marchi
2021    Riccardo Benozzato
2022    Cesare Castellani
2023    Riccardo Longo
2024    Carlo Ceccarello
2025    Alessandro Bellettini
2026   Manuel PUPILLO