Coppa Diddi, more controversy. The bitterness of the organizers

The controversy and especially the bitterness of the managers of the Dino Diddi sports group of Agliana chaired by Maurizio Mangoni, regarding the forced change of route of their classic for students that has counted 76 editions, in order to avoid the overlap with the GP Industria e Artigianato Professionisti of Larciano, does not subside. The two races are scheduled for Sunday 7 September and on the matter the GS Dino Diddi has sent a letter in which it recalls the history and importance of the student race, the athletes who have competed in it from Bugno to Nibali, Viviani, Pogacar.

"This year - it reads - despite the objective importance of the event, the organization found itself faced with a paradoxical situation, on the same date the Larciano GP was scheduled, without any prior communication, thus making the traditional route that passes through San Baronto and Vinci impossible for the Coppa Dino Diddi, complicating the logistics of the entire organization considerably. The passion, commitment and results obtained to protect our event were not enough - the letter continues - both the Federation and the Larciano organization entrenched themselves behind the fact that the UCI calendar is protected by a larger system and therefore impossible to modify. We recognize the value and importance of what Larciano is doing to grow its race, but it would have been nice if our association had also been invited to the table of that programmatic meeting, passed off to us as an opportunity to grow the Tuscany of cycling, to think about something structured and constructive for the entire cycling movement and for our territory".

"In fact, the way this decision was made represents a clear sign of disinterest in youth cycling - they attack -, an increasingly lacking dialogue between Federations and organizing companies, and perhaps youth races are being ignored too lightly. The only proposal received - the letter concludes - was to change the date of the event, without any planning, without arriving at concrete proposals that could be pursued, both for logistical and calendar reasons. With all the problems that ensue, and with great bitterness, we have therefore decided to change course".

Antonio Mannori