For 48 years, the ASD Fausto Coppi di Cesenatico association has been organizing the international granfondo cycling tourism event called Nove Colli – Selle Italia, and they’ve always been supportive of good causes. In the last decades, they have donated a lot of money for local facilities and for the promotion of youth cycling. Among other things, in 2017 a €24,000 donation was made to a work crew in Arquata for a series of initiatives, including the construction of a small bike path. The town needed a way for their children to “get away” from the tragedy that had struck their town and their families. What better way than through sport, than on a bicycle!
Even closer to home, ASD Fausto Coppi has never held back support from charity initiatives. One particular example is shown by the organizing committee for the oldest Granfondo in the world and their close association with another excellent program from this territory, the Romagna Oncology Institute - Istituto Oncologico Romagnolo (IOR). Since 1979 this non-profit group has been leading the cause in the fight against cancer by supporting scientific research and treating patients for free. Although this partnership is only in its third year, it has already led to solid results: in 2017 seven bib numbers from the red starting grid were auctioned off and proceeds went towards the purchase of a vehicle to provide a ride service for oncology patients in Cervia, Cesenatico and its neighbourhoods, to get them from their homes to the care centre and back. This service is provided for free by IOR, thanks to the invaluable work of its 64 volunteer drivers.
This year the Nove Colli is redoubling its efforts and putting together an event within the event: “Nove Colli 4 Children”. Several ex- sports champions and stars from the cycling sphere will make up a Dream Team and will race against time to support the important projects that IOR is developing at the Paediatric Onco- haematology ward in Rimini, a point of reference in Romagna in the cure for children’s tumours. The team will include, among others: Ivan Basso, Joaquim “Purito” Rodriguez, Mauro Gianetti, UEC President Rocco Cattaneo, Olympic champions Yuri Chechi, Antonio Rossi and cross country skier Federico Pellegrino. Paolo Bettini will be the captain of the team, also taking on the role of head coach. The purpose will be to beat the clock: ride the 130-km route and climb four hills in less than 4 hours, and give sick children a better future.
“We wanted to promote a noble cause and create something that people could get involved in,” says President Alessandro Spada. “Among all the various ideas, this one seemed interesting for spectators and enjoyable for cyclists as well. The champions will be sharing the road with twelve thousand fellow cyclists who will be eager allies, or “domestiques”, to use a popular cycling term. It will be fun to watch all of these famous personalities race. I’d like to thank them publicly right now for generously giving us some of their time. This initiative is like a team time trial. And like in any time trial, the Dream Team will have a strategy in place. The fourth rider to arrive will decide the time; that way the strongest flat riders will work hard in the first part and those who do better on the mountains will try to make the most of the efforts of the entire Team.
If they succeed in their endeavour, the Nove Colli – Selle Italia will give a € 10,000 check to IOR to implement and sustain services and make improvements to the ward. The amount has been doubled, unannounced, from Alessio Cremonese representing Sportful, and I want to thank him from the bottom of my hearth for the sensitivity. The total amount that our champions will bring to the IOR will so be 20,000 euros, and I’m sure they will succeed in. We’re going to have fun, they’re going to have fun, and we’ll be doing something good.”
“The commitment the IOR has undertaken with the Paediatric Oncology-haematology ward in Rimini covers several projects,” explains General Manager Fabrizio Miserocchi. “An oncological psychologist provides counselling for children and their parents. Pet therapy has proven essential in getting the younger patients to cooperate and accept the difficult treatments they need to undergo every day. It’s important to continue finding new services that can make life easier for these families when their children are sick. This is why we are thrilled that the Nove Colli and these sports champions have decided to help us in this mission: we are sure that racing to contribute towards a future for these brave children will be a strong motivation for them to push those pedals to the medal and stay under the four hour limit. In any case it will be a fantastic show of sports and solidarity.”
Sportful, that always stood shoulder to shoulder with he Nove Colli – Selle Italia, and title sponsor of the mini granfondo, has shown an incredible sensitivity for the initiative: “ We are working for a special jersey for this team” says Alessio Cremonese form Sportful. “This Deam Team has a dream, and it’s an achievement bigger than any races: give an hope to the younger, especially to the ones that need it more. We are going to give our best for this goal, in fact we will be ready with our testimonials and we will double up the amount that Nove Colli will devolve”.
“The final goal it’s hard but achievable” stresses Yuri Chechi, “the spirit of the event is the right one, we are all former athletes that used to race for the victory, but this accomplishment goes further. The project stimulated me and I will give my best to finish under the 4 hours, I’m honoured to be part of this team of friends”.
The coach and team manager of the Dream Team, Paolo Bettini, is ready for the challenge: “we need to start training as soon as possible and we have already planned an inspection on the parcourse. I never raced the Nove Colli, but I know Romagna’s streets and hills. It is not going to be easy staying together along with 12000 participants. We will study the key points of the Granfondo and we will implement the best strategy possible to be able to finish the race under the 4 hours. We will do it with a smile, putting together athletes form different sports, but with the big main goal to do some good”.