Not even the time to go home after an intense season that Daniele Pontoni is already looking forward to the next one. Just enough time to rearrange ideas and draw up a balance sheet capable of still adjusting the shot for 2023-24 stops. In his second year at the helm of the Cyclo-cross national team, the Friulian technician is able to rattle off numbers that say a lot, especially for a project that looks at the overall growth of the cyclo-cross movement.
Source: FCI press release
'If we look at the participants in the last Italian championships we can say that our movement has a thousand cross riders, from the very young to the amateurs. Of these, around 350 are part of the UCI categories (Juniors, U23 and Elite), in a percentage of 2/3 men and 1/3 women. From this point of view, we rank behind leading countries, such as Belgium, Holland, France, Great Britain and the USA. We are at the level of the Czech Republic. These are the countries that we find in the medal tables of the World Cup in recent years. We also have to compare ourselves with them from the point of view of results.'
So how are we doing? 'I can say that at the end of a long national team season (started in September and ended in February, ed) we have about ten women capable of competing to enter the 10, as well as an athlete capable of any result, I am referring to Silvia Persian. Among men, the overall situation is a little less florid, both for the percentage of top-level athletes and for the absence, in this phase, of a reference rider.
However, I look to next year with optimism: the many players I have brought to the national team have accumulated valuable experience, furthermore some students are expected to join the team who have shown that they are already ready; they will certainly strengthen the category.'
Let's go back to the season that has just ended, long and full of appointments for the national team: 'In September last year we started with a series of rallies and tests with the performance team which involved around 50 athletes overall. It was a first comparison with 15% of all Italian motocross riders (UCI cat). From these moments, and from the races in Italy, we have drawn the indications for the national teams lined up for 5 international races in Spain, 6 World Cup races, the European and World Cups. At the end of this long journey, the numbers tell us that 66 athletes were involved who had the opportunity to compete at the highest levels in 13 international competitions. If we keep in mind that the average season for a rider includes participation in around 20 races, we can say that the national team has allowed many kids to accumulate fundamental experiences for their careers and for the national team itself.'
The world championships were the final act: many placings but the medal was missing: 'We went to the World Cup aware that it would be tough. I am convinced (but it is an approach shared by the federal top management) that the Maglia Azzurra at a world championship is recognition for those who deserve it, from a behavioral and technical point of view. You participate in the World Championship if you have the chance to get on the podium or do well, otherwise you work even harder to be able to conquer the place the following year.
Everyone who came to Hoogerheide deserved a call-up and proved it in the race. The difference between a medal or a fourth place, in cyclo-cross as in cycling in general, is sometimes given by details.'
What is still missing for our movement to be able to compete with the leading countries? 'It's not easy to answer. Certainly in Belgium and Holland, cyclo-cross has roots in the sporting culture of those countries capable of moving large numbers. Much following = greater attention from the big names towards this discipline. In Italy, companies focus more on the road. The fact that cyclo-cross is not an Olympic discipline certainly doesn't help to generate interest. Something is moving. Our activity is also aimed at interacting with clubs to ensure that athletes can devote themselves to cyclo-cross and also to other disciplines.'
From this point of view, a figure like Silvia Persico is fundamental: 'Exactly. Silvia is a great talent.. I define her as 'the Maradona of our national team', both for her technical skills and for her willingness to plan the season, her way of making a team, of helping and encouraging her teammates. When everyone works for the same goal, the solution to problems related to commitments, preparation, different and legitimate needs, is always found.'
One of the characteristics of the organization of the national teams of the new governance was that of the exchange of information and collaboration between the various disciplines. Your collaboration with Mirko Celestino has been widely covered by the media, a little less has been said about the rallies held with the Team performance: 'They were fundamental moments that allowed us to plan and target the preparation of each individual athlete. The collaboration with Diego Bragato's group is very useful and will continue next year as well.
I would like to thank Luigi Bielli, a valid and trusted technical collaborator who, among other things, also for geographical reasons, is in charge of monitoring the matches in central and southern Italy and with him all the staff of the national team, with whom I have shared travel and commitments: I am fortunate to be at the center of a group of great professionals, each able to ensure the best support. Our task is to create a serene and constructive atmosphere that allows athletes to think only of the races. I'm glad that this is also recognized externally.' (ouch)
THE NUMBERS OF THE NATIONAL TEAM'S CYCLO-CROSS SEASON
5 MEETINGS: Cogorno (GE) Codogné (TV), Jesolo (VE) S.Francesco (TO), Benidorm (E) – 51 Athletes representing 24 Teams
2 TEST TEAM PERFORMANCE: Gemona del Friuli (UD) and Montichiari (BS) – 48 Athletes representing 20 Teams
5 INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS SPAIN (Galicia): 10 Athletes representing 7 Teams
6 CDM ROUNDS: Tabor (CZE), Massmechelen (B), Vermiglio (ITA), Zonhoven (B), Benidorm (E) and Besançon (F) – 68 Athletes representing 14 Teams;
CAMP. EUROPEAN NAMUR (B): 17 Athletes representing 11 Teams
CAMP. WORLD CUP Hoogerheide (NL): 14 Athletes representing 10 Teams
CX ACTIVITY GRAND TOTAL – 66 Athletes representing 26 Teams – 13 COMPETITIONS and 7 MEETINGS
HISTORY OF PARTICIPANTS AND RESULTS
European Camps 2021 – 20 participants; 3^cl. Cat Jr. M PALETTI
European Camps 2022 – 17 participants; 2^cl. JUNIOR W. CORVI, 4^ cl. UNDER 23 M. Toneatti, 5^cl. ELITE W. Casasola
World Championships 2022 – 8 participants; 1^cl.TEAM RELAY (test event), 3^cl. ELITE W. PERCH, 5^cl. JUNIOR W. Venturelli
Camp. World Championships 2023 – 14 participants; 4^cl. ELITE W. Persico, 4^cl JUNOR W. Venturelli, 5^cl TEAM RELAY ITA
