The meeting of the Off-road sector which saw the participation of technicians, companies and organizers.
Source: press release (Valentina Vercillo)
Around 130 people were present, including the deputy vice-president of CONI Emilia-Romagna Andrea Vaccaro, the Federal Councillors Serena Danesi e Giancarlo Masini, the representatives of the CRs Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, Alto Adige, Piedmont, Marche, Friuli and Lazio, the sector Secretaries Mauro Centenaro, Elena Danese and Francesca Ferrari.
On the speakers' table, embellished with the World Cup leaders' jerseys and the rainbow cyclocross jersey, the FCI president Cordiano Dagnoni, the councilor with responsibility for Off-Road Vehicles Masini, the Team Manager of the National Teams Robert Amadio and the head of the Performance Team Diego Bragato, coordinated by the president of the Off-Road Sector Massimo Ghirotto, which has drawn up a balance sheet for the 2023 season and illustrated the national and international programs for the Olympic year (attached).
An interesting presentation by the Mayor of Sorbolo Mezzani introduced the meeting Nicola Cesari, owner of the house yesterday and promoter of a series of projects aimed at enhancing the territory through the support and promotion of correct lifestyles. Among these, the use of the bicycle, both in its sporting guise and as a vehicle for tourism: an example of this is the Food Valley Bike, a cycle circuit from Parma to Busseto which enhances the areas bordering the Po, together with their culture gastronomic.
The president's speech opens the proceedings Dagnoni, who recalled how the Off-Road is capable of expressing important numbers and can be a great opportunity to practice cycling safely. He also recalled how this Federation has a medium and long-term vision, choosing not to invest only in Olympic specialties: “Our federation has decided to commit to all sectors and that this is a virtuous path is demonstrated by the many medals won. To those who only look at the glass half empty, claiming that Italian cycling is in crisis only because we don't have a stage race champion, I reply that they should look at the overall growth of the entire movement.
Off-road is one of those sectors in which we are investing and with which we are already reaping: work that will bear the best fruits for Los Angeles 2028."
“Ours is a medium-long term vision” it echoes him Robert Amadio, Team Manager of the national cycling teams. Which adds: “There are not only the Olympic specialties, there are also all the others that we have no intention of leaving behind. Our vision does not only include the four-year period that will end with Paris 2024: in disciplines in which we have not achieved qualification, such as BMX Freestyle, we have already started organizing events and new recruitments to be competitive in Los Angeles 2028".
The word passes to Diego Bragato, who explained how the Performance Team is collaborating more and more closely with the Off-Road sector, supporting all CTs in a transversal manner on performance (athletic preparation, evaluation tests, study of materials, biomechanics, psychology): all fundamental areas to be able to express at high levels and obtain the best possible result.
Then there is room for the Technical Stewards Mirko Celestine, Daniel Pontoni, Frederick Ventura, Simone Fabbri e Angelo Rocchetti, who took stock of the season just ended and set out their national teams' programs for 2024. BMX Racing coach Tommaso Lupi was absent, busy with the World Cup race in New Zealand.
Special guest of the day is the new cyclocross world champion for the junior category Stefano Viezzi, who spoke remotely to the large audience about the emotions he felt in winning and wearing the rainbow jersey. “When I crossed the finish line I couldn't believe it, I didn't think I had made it. Then I thought about all the work that went into this long journey and I'm happy to have been able to repay it. My goal was to bring Italy to the top like Daniele (Pontoni, ed.) had done and I thank you for all the opportunities you gave me." The meeting then continued with the presentation of circuits and off-road events most important of the 2024 season.
Satisfied Massimo Ghirotto: “It was an important opportunity for discussion for the entire movement. I thank you for the numerous participation and the interest shown: ours is a discipline that is growing rapidly thanks to the continuous synergy between all the basic components". A cohesion that the whole world envies us, as the president underlines Cordiano Dagnoni: “They call us 'La Squadra', in Italian, because we convey a feeling of unity and harmony to everyone. This is our great added value, which we have built thanks to the collaboration between the technical staff and collaborators involved."
Thus the president closes Dagnoni: “Thanks to Massimo Ghirotto, his professionalism and his passion, thanks to which this commission acted with a different impulse. Thanks to councilor Giancarlo Masini, delegate for Off-Road Vehicles who works every day demonstrating that he really cares about this sector. I thank the mayor of Sorbolo Mezzani Nicola Cesari and his enthusiasm, the Emilia-Romagna Region, the CONI vice-president Andrea Vaccaro, present today, and the CR Emilia for the hospitality.
Thanks to the regional representatives, to all our technical staff, to Team Manager Roberto Amadio and Diego Bragato, representing the Performance Team who created greater synergy between different disciplines and working groups. But the most important thanks goes to all the companies and organizers present: they are the protagonists of this event. It is an important opportunity for discussion, all considerations and constructive criticisms that can be good for our cycling are welcomed."
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