Carlotta Casarotti's 2026 has been truly incredible: the athlete born in 2012 has achieved a series of beautiful victories, among which shines the Italian road championship title and to which is added the track title in the madison. The tuttoBICI Award Gran Premio Colnago represents the cherry on top of a season to be framed, in which the young Venetian athlete dominated in the best debutant category, distancing the second-placed competitor by as many as 49 points. The emotion of being able to participate in our gala evening is immense, Carlotta tells us immediately when she takes a break from studying to answer our phone call and tell us about her magical 2026. At the awards ceremony, she will be able to meet her idol Elisa Longo Borghini, but not only that...

Carlotta Casarotti's adventure in the world of cycling began almost by chance when she was just in first grade, she had been practicing artistic gymnastics for a few years, but after each training session she was fascinated by her classmates who were preparing to go cycling. She watched them continuously, wanted to be like them, and so one day she decided to try.

«Cycling has always intrigued me, when I was in first grade there were some children training after me and I always wanted to stay and watch what they were doing, until one day I asked my mother to let me try. For the first two years I tried to balance both activities, but I quickly understood that cycling was my path and my parents supported my choice. I like getting in the saddle, pedaling, training consistently and giving my all to reach my goal» Carlotta tells us, emphasizing how cycling has brought her special friendships, but also always new goals to achieve.

In the young Venetian athlete's story, her family plays a fundamental role, where cycling has always been in the air. Dad Enzo participated in various road and mountain bike races among amateurs and as soon as Carlotta started her new adventure, her mom Elisa and sister Adelaide became enthusiastic too. «My family is fundamental, they support me in everything and they take me to almost all the races even though they are very far from home. Every time they cheer in a special way, they are always there to welcome me after the finish line, to support me and help me when something is wrong. My sister Adelaide is my point of reference, she always supports me and helps me overcome those moments when I'm feeling a bit down».

Carlotta races for the UC Val d'Illasi, a team not far from home where she made her first pedal strokes: among the ranks of this team she found what feels like a second family and many friends. She is the only girl on the team but this has never weighed on her; on the contrary, it has always been a motivation to improve and make a difference. This year she won 14 road races, but among the many successes the Italian title has a truly special place: while in 2025 among first-year debutants she had to settle for second place, this time the tricolor eluded her no longer.

«It's been a fantastic season, I didn't expect all these results, I believe much of the credit goes to my parents and my family. On the day of the Italian championships they all came to Laives to support me and it was beautiful. I knew the race circuit very well because I had the opportunity to try it beforehand. As soon as we started, the pace was so high that no one could attack. We were watching each other very carefully, and since this was the most important race of the year, everyone wanted to do well. Then the victory came. It was amazing also because wearing the tricolor requires a certain responsibility, you represent your nation and there is only one jersey in the group. At first I felt the pressure, but then I realized that if I had managed to win it was only because I deserved it».

The Italian title was a huge emotion to which was added the victory in the tricolor jersey of the Coppa di Sera, a symbolic race among youth categories in which she imposed herself in a sprint from a small group.

Carlotta Casarotti is still very young, she is only fourteen years old, but she has no doubt that cycling will be part of her life. Her dream is to become a complete athlete, to try to make a difference in the classics, but also in the grand tours like her idol Elisa Longo Borghini. The athlete from Ornavasso is her great point of reference, she has only seen her once at the race organized at the champion's home, but on the night of the Awards she will have the opportunity to meet her.

«I can't wait to meet Elisa and in view of the Awards night I'm also excited about this possibility, I read the list of awarded athletes and it's amazing. Besides, I race in the same category as one of her nieces and it's something that is always strange for me» says Carlotta.

In her cycling adventure, however, there is not only road racing. In the last two years she has practiced cyclocross while continuing to race on the track, also following the example of Chiara Consonni: «I've been doing track since I was G4 and I will do everything to keep it going. It's a discipline I really like, it's adrenaline-filled and it has allowed me to win two Italian titles in the madison in 2025 and 2026. My goal for next year and in the future is to hold strong, to be able to race on the road and on the track, I would like to try all the specialties to understand which one is best suited for me».

Next year she will continue her adventure with UC Val d'Illasi. In the junior women category, Carlotta Casarotti will find some of the girls she raced with and she can't wait to challenge them to try to improve even more.

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TUTTOBICI AWARD WOMEN DEBUTANTS - HONOR ROLL

2005    Rossella Callovi
2006    Rossella Ratto
2007    Rossella Ratto
2008    Lisa Gamba
2009    Sara Coffinardi
2010    Sara Wackermann
2011    Martina Alzini
2012    Lisa Morzenti
2013    Letizia Paternoster
2014    Gloria Scarsi
2015    Gaia Masetti
2016    Eleonora Gasparrini
2017    Francesca Barale
2018    Eleonora Ciabocco
2019    Federica Venturelli
2020    Asia Sgaravato
2021    Linda Sanarini
2022    Matilde Rossignoli
2023    Anna Bonassi
2024    Nicole Bracco
2025    Nicole Bracco
2026    Carlotta CASAROTTI