Paola Pezzo Champions Mountain Biking Promotion in Garda
In the name of Paola. Paola Pezzo, the strongest athlete in the world of two wheels, capable of winning two consecutive gold medals at the Olympics, first in Atlanta and then in Sydney. In between, a World Championship, a European Championship, and a World Cup. Essentially all there was to win. An exemplary career displayed with the modesty of someone who reached the top through sacrifices and exhausting training sessions. At any hour, even at dawn.
“It happened a month before the Sydney Olympics. To get used to the time zone, I started cycling at dawn. I began at six, then went back to four in the morning, in the dead of night. I was on my bike, with Paolo Rosola (the coach) in the car behind with headlights on, illuminating the Gardesana. Yes, the Riviera degli Olivi is the ideal area for mountain biking. In the hinterland, I prepared for my Olympics,” she recounts.
Love and Promotion of Mountain Biking
Paola knows the Rocca di Garda like the back of her hand, and she fell in love with this territory so much that she organized the Granfondo Paola Pezzo for the second consecutive year. An event that’s hard to export.
“Primarily because of affection, and secondly because such beautiful routes with breathtaking views of the lake are rarely found in Italy.” Indeed, Pezzo has decided to turn the page. To leave competitive activity behind and dedicate herself to promoting a sport she loves passionately.
Mountain biking is part of her DNA. It represents her recent past and the future, during which she will serve as an ambassador to all bikers. And there are truly many, over three thousand, who have already joined her starting yesterday in Garda to celebrate, today, the second edition of the Granfondo.
Promotional Events and Commitments
An internationally significant event kicked off with a gala on Friday evening at Villa Madrina. Sitting at the table between Garda mayor Giorgio Comencini and the extraordinary commissioner of Apt 12 Marco Zaninelli (with provincial councilor Davide Bendinelli beside them), Paola Pezzo shares her story and points out the main path for promoting mountain biking.
“On the field, I believe I’ve fulfilled my duty. Now I face a different task: being a testimonial. I’ve just returned from San Francisco, where, among other commitments, I spent a day at the beach telling children the secrets of mountain biking. If all goes well, in agreement with the Italian Federation, a project will soon start that will involve me in schools.”
I’ve done it several times before, but this time it would be part of a comprehensive project. No, I have no nostalgia for competitions, even though I will participate in the Granfondo. The number of registrations is incredible. So many that we had to close entries well in advance.
But there’s more than just the Granfondo. In the fall, the federative mountain bike school will launch here. Two specific technical preparation courses are scheduled from September 24 to 28 and from October 7 to 12,” she explains.
“All tourists staying in Garda hotels will be able to participate,” clarifies Alessandro Borelli, president of the hotel association. A package of great appeal, offering a week of fun with the bicycle, as well as intense activities exploring our trails with instructors and athletes like Paola Pezzo, Michael Rasmussen, and Camilla Bertossi. The technical head of the school will be Paolo Rosola.
