When Alessandro Gennesi told me about his project, I immediately thought it was important to share it.
I believe that all those organizations that invest concretely in young people and succeed in instilling a passion for cycling deserve attention, support, and visibility. Mountain biking is an extraordinary world, capable of providing emotions, friendships, experiences, and values that last a lifetime. But it's also a movement that today needs new blood, young people ready to discover how a bicycle can become a tool for personal growth, even before it becomes a sporting achievement.
Anyone who has experienced great emotions thanks to mountain biking has a moral duty to help younger people get involved, become passionate about it, and experience firsthand everything this sport has to offer. For this reason, the project promoted by Team PiùSport and Freeride Tigullio deserves to be known.
A project that starts with the kids
After years of operating in the Ligurian region, Freeride Tigullio has decided to take a further step forward by developing a fully-fledged youth competitive sector. This program focuses on children and young people, supporting them in their sporting and, above all, personal growth.
The goal is not simply to develop competitive athletes, but to create an environment capable of instilling values such as respect, loyalty, solidarity, commitment, and team spirit. These values are more important today than ever and find in sport one of the best educational tools.
Behind this project are two well-known figures in the cycling world: Alessandro Gennesi, multiple Italian Enduro champion, and Luca Raggio, a former professional road cyclist. Two distinct experiences that have come together with a common vision: to build a future for youth cycling in the Tigullio region and the province of Genoa.
The growth of a movement
The numbers clearly demonstrate the quality of the work done in recent years. Membership has grown steadily, as has the number of events organized and activities dedicated to young people.
Today, Team PiùSport covers categories ranging from Giovanissimi to Esordienti and Allievi, offering a structured sporting path that allows young people to grow without necessarily having to seek opportunities far from their hometown.
This is far from a secondary aspect. In many parts of Italy, the challenge isn't just finding young people interested in cycling, but offering them the technical and organizational continuity that allows them to stay involved. Creating a local sports network means ensuring cycling's future.
MTB as a school of life
One of the most interesting aspects of the project concerns the philosophy with which the sporting activity is approached.
Training isn't designed solely to improve performance. Cycling becomes an educational tool through which to learn respect for rules, how to manage difficulties, the value of sacrifice, and the ability to work in a team.
For the little ones, fun remains the focus, while as they grow, the technical and competitive aspects gradually increase, always under the guidance of qualified coaches and in a safe environment.
Mountain biking, in particular, represents a discipline capable of putting children in direct contact with nature, teaching respect for the environment and developing independence, balance, and decision-making skills.
Schools and the territory
Another element that makes this project particularly significant is the work carried out in schools.
For years, Freeride Tigullio has been bringing cycling to local schools through hands-on activities, skills training, and road safety education sessions. A practical way to introduce new kids to cycling and spread a culture of mobility and sport.
Cycling is presented not only as a competitive activity, but as a tool for well-being, social interaction, and personal growth.
Events that generate passion
In addition to its daily sporting activities, the Team organizes numerous events involving young athletes, families, and enthusiasts.
Among these, the PiùSport Trophy dedicated to young riders and the Suzuki GT Motor Cup stand out, events that attract hundreds of participants every year and help create enthusiasm around the local cycling movement.
Events that aren't just competitions, but also genuine moments of community gathering and promotion of the local area.
Investing in young people means investing in the future
At a time when many sports are struggling to engage younger generations, projects like Team PiùSport take on a value that goes far beyond competitive results.
The growth of Italian cycling inevitably depends on the ability to attract new kids to cycling. It requires clubs that believe in young people, trained coaches, engaged families, and people willing to dedicate time and energy to building something that will yield results, perhaps in ten years.
It is a silent, often little visible, but fundamental work.
This is why organizations like Team PiùSport deserve attention and support. Because behind every young biker who discovers a passion for mountain biking, there's not just a potential future athlete, but a young person learning important values through sport.
And perhaps this is the most beautiful result a sports club can achieve.
