Yeah, I don't get it either. Maybe if you live in Milano or Roma.Why would you even ride on the track to begin with living in Italy? I have no clue, I can understand it being Danish and having to train from october-march on the road, but Italy? C'mon man
I get why Mtb would be popular because it's fun and safer than training on open roads and therefor parents are also not opposed, but I don't really get track cycling that much, maybe during the winter but that's about it.
The funny thing is that Italy only has 1 indoor velodrome, and that one is closed half the time because the roof is leaking. Italy becoming a track nation has to do with good coaches who actually want to develop riders long term (unlike most u23 and junior teams) and the talented riders, clearly not because of the great infrastructure.