How nice to be young and carefree: Loris Revelli, Martin Maes, Massimino, me ...
Ok, maybe that's not my case anymore, despite the thick and natural blonde hair (…). During the Elba Social Ride, at our summer headquarters, a few weeks ago, where the great Marco Aurelio Fontana was present (ed, Saturday 15 September), many participants had the honor of meeting Massimino, the 13-year-old boy who like love has the full-face helmet, our mascot who, however, risks being a top athlete for 2019 (don't call her mascot anymore). Often his name is echoed in the magazine or on our social networks but on the other hand it is normal (but not admissible) that this name means little or nothing to some of you.
He has grown up with us in the last 4 years and has learned many things: between tried and tested tricks, jumping techniques and curves, for Massimo the summer means an intensive 3-month internship at our bike center with the possibility of use any bike he can get to, including 5000 euro test bikes: it doesn't matter if the size is an M while he would fit an XS wide. Impossible to stop it! With these assumptions, like it or not, the improvements have arrived. In addition to clothing (finally some nice orange Troy Lee Design pants have replaced the Adidas tracksuit), the driving technique has also reached excellent levels. But what I wanted to talk about was the situation that arose about halfway around the Elba Social Ride. Descent of the mine or, for the more local, Poggio Polveraio: a beautiful descent, scene of challenges during the Capoliveri Legend (World Cup Marathon trial) and during our Bike Tours. We arrive at the end of the section called Poggio Polveraio, yes laughs and jokes, with Marco Aurelio Fontana who imposed an Enduro race pace (high for the others but he seemed in control). Here Marco moves away from the path and sees a nice tricky drop to be able to do (Marco's eye is an expert athlete since it took us some time to see that line, already commercials for test photos in the magazine ).
While Marco and I go up to evaluate him, Massimo also joins us: I believe a lot in the qualities of this little boy but then and there I didn't think even remotely that he could try to do it, also because down below a natural stage was created with about forty. of people watching. But here, while studying the trajectories, the very young guide and chief assistant of the Costa Dei Gabbiani Bike Center, surprising everyone, launches and drops with fear (in the digital edition the video)! All with an electric bike that, given its 35kg, almost equals its weight, immediately followed by Marco, who, amidst the ovation of the audience, faced the drop on the "powder keg" despite the high saddle and the Xc bike! (chapeau). And when Mauro, immediately after taking this picture of him and just before fainting from the unexpected crazy gesture, asked him: "Massimino, what the f *** did you think of?", The answer was: "Mauro … it's my life!".
