Torino Cycling Forum: cycling as a system

Turin hosted the General Assembly of professional road cycling.

As part of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Milano–Torino presented by Crédit Agricole—the oldest cycling race in the world still being held today, with its first edition dating back to 1876—a Cycling Forum took place in the city.

The event was promoted by RCS Sport, organiser of the race that will start tomorrow from Rho and finish after 174 kilometres in front of the Basilica of Superga, in collaboration with Lega Ciclismo Professionistico.

Held at the Cinema Massimo, located just a few steps from the Mole Antonelliana and part of the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, the forum addressed several key topics: the importance of television coverage in the organisation of sporting events, territorial legacy, technical innovation in equipment, sponsorship and safety.

Following the institutional welcome from Enzo Ghigo, President of the National Cinema Museum of Turin, and opening remarks by Roberto Pella, President of the Lega Ciclismo Professionistico, the speakers included Paolo Bellino, CEO and General Manager of RCS Sports & Events; Ada Ferri, Associate Professor at the Department of Applied Science and Technology of the Polytechnic University of Turin; and Renzo Oldani, President of Società Ciclistica Alfredo Binda.

Moderated by Cristina Fantoni, the Cycling Forum also featured contributions from leading representatives and organisers of the Italian cycling movement, including Rossella Di Leo, team manager and sports director of MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort; Bruno Reverberi, team manager of Bardiani CSF 7 Saber; Alessandro Rolandi, President of SC Mobili Lissone; Luca Roveda, President of U.S. Legnanese 1913; Luca Di Sandro, President of Unione Ciclistica Pecciolese; Gabriele Varignani, President of U.C. Larcianese; Stefano Giuliani, President of U.C. Fernando Perna; and Mario Minervino, President of Cycling Sport Promotion.

The day will conclude with an exclusive evening at the Museo Nazionale del Cinema.

Quotes

Roberto Pella, President of the Lega Ciclismo Professionistico: “Here in Turin, we have seen a concrete demonstration of how cycling can create a unified system. The forum brought together many of the key players in our movement: an important moment of discussion that showed how, when cycling presents itself as united, it is able to face the challenges of the future with greater strength in an increasingly competitive sporting and media environment. Moreover, celebrating 150 years since the first edition of the Milano–Torino means paying tribute to a race that represents a genuine heritage of world cycling. It is a competition that spans eras, territories, and generations, maintaining its prestige and identity intact. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to RCS Sport and its president Urbano Cairo, as well as to Paolo Bellino, for the excellent organization of an event that continues to grow in international visibility and technical quality. The Milano–Torino is an integral part of the system of races associated with the Professional Cycling League and is included in the Italian Regions Cup, a project developed together with the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces, with the aim of enhancing territories through a shared strategy of sports and tourism promotion”.

Paolo Bellino, CEO and General Manager of RCS Sports & Events: “Sporting events are platforms capable of generating lasting value for the territories that host them. The real challenge for organisers is to build a legacy that goes beyond race days, leaving behind international visibility, economic development, tourism promotion and a stronger sporting culture. Cycling, in particular, has an extraordinary ability to showcase territories. For this reason, we work to ensure that every event becomes a concrete opportunity for growth and enhancement for local communities”.

Enzo Ghigo, President of the National Cinema Museum of Turin: “We are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Milano–Torino race in the symbolic landmark of the city, the Mole Antonelliana, which has housed our National Cinema Museum since 2000. When Milano–Torino was first held, cinema did not yet exist—it was born almost 20 years later, in 1895. Cycling quickly became one of the protagonists of the Seventh Art, as it was already a rapidly growing phenomenon. The National Cinema Museum preserves in its collections some footage from 1897 showing people riding bicycles and crossing the Gran Madre bridge”.

Ada Ferri, Associate Professor at the Polytechnic University of Turin: “The evolution of materials in cycling has significantly transformed this sport, starting with carbon frames that offer superior performance, and continuing with sportswear, whose increasingly advanced aerodynamic textures allow riders to shave off seconds that become crucial in achieving better results”.

Renzo Oldani, President of Società Ciclistica Alfredo Binda: “Safety is a fundamental issue for us. Speaking on behalf of the AIOCC, together with the UCI and the teams, we have implemented the use of technology, with programs that monitor the race in real time, in order to keep up with the times and provide an increasingly safe experience for riders and all those involved. The women’s movement is becoming ever more important. This is also demonstrated by the push from the Professional Cycling League, which has equalized prize money between men’s and women’s races. We must develop both movements at the same pace, to showcase the spectacle of cycling in all its forms to the world”.