Italian cycling is looking for new sponsors to get back to Serie A
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The Giro d’Italia which ended with the victory of the Slovenian Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma team) over the Welsh Geraint Thomas was a success with TV and social audiences. However, this success is offset by the structural crisis of Italian cycling, symbolized by the fact that, after the disappearance of Liquigas in 2012 and Lampre in 2016, there are no more Italian teams racing in the UCI WorldTeam, the international circuit first tier.
International cycling
Among the 18 teams that participate by right in the great stage races (Tour de France, Giro and Vuelta of Spain) and in the classic-monument, there are big names of the caliber of Ineos, financed by the chemical giant of Jim Ratcliffe, of the UAE Team , backed by the UAE government, and Bahrain Victorious. But the roster also includes four French, three Belgian, two Dutch teams, all with ethical, financial, administrative, organizational and sporting standards verified by the International Cycling Union. These formations can rely on budgets ranging from 25 to 10 million euros, insured by the owners or by the sponsors.
The second division of world cycling, the Uci ProTeam, is made up of another 18 teams that can participate in continental competitions and only thanks to a wild card granted by the organizers can they access the competitions on the main calendar, the World Tour. The seasonal budget for these teams fluctuates between 10 and 3 million. The “Serie B” of international cycling includes three Italian formations: the Corratec Selle Italia Team; the Green Project-Bardiani-Csf-Faizanè; and the Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team.
All three have lost part in these three weeks in the Corsa Rosa. The only one to bring home a stage with Davide Bais was the latter, launched in 2018 by former cycling champions Alberto Contador and Ivan Basso.
Youth and territory
«Our project has solid Italian foundations – explains Basso, two-time winner of the Giro -. The headquarters are in Besozzo, in the province of Varese, and the two main sponsors, Eolo and Kometa, represent the emblem of the Italian entrepreneurial vision. We have always focused on team spirit and young players. The average age of our athletes is 26, with 11 cyclists under the age of 25. And above all, we want the kids in our Under 23 and Junior teams to grow and mature».
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