Stefano Locatelli - 26/02/1989 - Team Colpack. In my eyes without a doubt still the biggest talent on the Italian U-23 scene. Started cycling at age 12, his debut came in a local criterium in his native town of Berbenno and the result must have pleased him a great deal. He crushed his fellow competitors in superior fashion. As a junior, he was completely dominant especially when the road tilted uphill he was totally in a class of his own. In 2006 and 2007 he became the most winning Italian junior rider collecting a combined total of 24 victories spread over the 2 seasons. 12 victories in 2006 and 12 victories in 2007. His fierce acceleration on the steepest of climbs drew comparison with one of Italy’s finest legends and earned him the nickname as ”Il nuovo Pantani”, The new Pantani. In 2008 his first as a U-23 rider he won two classical mountain-top finishes on the Italian calendar, Monte-Cengio and Pian Della Mussa. 2009 turned out to be a year with up and downs. He won the climbers jersey in the Baby Giro (Or the Giro-Bio as its so fancily is called today) and destroyed all opposition on the 7,4 km long Mountain TT up Roncola. He was, however diagnosed with Pfeiffer disease in late August and therefore sidelined for the rest of the season. In 2010 he was back firing at all cylinders. For the second year running, he won the Mountain TT up Roncola before he secured what to date is the biggest win of his career an impressive victory in Bassano-Montregrappa which ends with a gruelling 25 kilometer ascent up the legendary Monte-Grappa pas. At the end of 2010 an agreement with the powerful Liquigas squad was ready too be signed, but when sickness unfortunately once again struck, both parts agreed on postponing the transfer to the pro-ranks until 2012. Stefano Locatelli is 1.75cm tall and weighs 60kg. In 2009 he underwent a long line of test at the famed University of Bergamo. Among other, was his power to weight ration measured to a stunning 7/watt per kilo, which put him right up there test wise with some of the best elite climbers in the world. In 2011 he aims to win the Baby-Giro (Giro-Bio). His favorite climb is the Stelvio pas, and his idol as a cyclist in no other than the 7 time winner of Tour de France, Lance Armstrong.
Francesco Manuel Bongiorno - 01/09/1990 - Zalf Desiree Fior. Probably Italy´s most complete stage-race hope for the future. At the age of 10 he was already riding all the local highways in his home region of Reggio Calabria thin. When he turned 11 he was entered in the local cycle-club and since then its more or less only gone one way for the Italian shooting-star. His first year as a junior however, turned out to be a small catastrophe as a knee injury benched him for the first 5 months of the season. He did managed to sneak out a few results in the second part of the year, with among other two top-5 placing´s in the one-day time trail events Coppa Sagra del Conigilo and Gran Premio. Super Glaz. 2008 on the other hand was a big success. Stage and Overall victory in Tre Ciclista Breciana. Victory on the queen-stage in Giro Della Lunigiana (finish-line on top of the 6 kilometer long and steady Fasdinovo climb), A total of 6 victories combined with another ten top-5 placing´s was the result of an outstanding season. Several of the major Italian U-23 squads where ready with a contact to the young talent, therefor it also came as a surprise when the final choice fell on the rather small and modest A.S.D Futura Team. The reason for the change was rather simple. The former Italian top-rider Franco Chioccioli (Winner of the Giro d´Italia in 1991) and at that time director sportive at A.S.D Futura was the man with the plan. Chioccioli had followed Bongiorno since the youngster was only 14 years of age and was convinced and well aware of the enormous potential he possessed. The transfer to the U-23 category wasn't all that rosy in the beginning however. The increasing speed especially on the flat took its toll on young Bongiorno, and when the peloton finally reached his terrain (the mountains) he was usually cooked. Often he was not even in the front-group when they reached the climbs, as he had already been dropped before they even reached the inclines. And put in that perspective the 2009 season was not a kind memoria for the tiny climber. In 2010 things changed for the better. With four victories and twenty one other top-10 placing´s the year must be described as a thundering success. The breakthrough became evident for everyone in the International recognized Giro Ciclistico della Valle d'Aosta Mont Blanc. 3rd on overall GC and winner of the youth jersey was an extraordinary achievement. On several of the hardest stages he furthermore showed glimpse of his excellent conditions as grimpeur when he attacked the selective front group with his symptomatic fluid pedal stroke mixed with high cadence style of riding. Before the 2011 season Bongiorno changed team-colors when a shift to the highly respected Zalf Désirée Fior squad became a reality. The expectations to the young talent now living in the outskirts of Firenze are sky-high. The ambition is a podium place on GC in both Tour de Avenir and the Giro-Bio, goals which seam absolutely realistic for a talent of his caliber. Francesco Manuel Bongiorno is 1.70cm tall and weighs 58kg. His idol is Alberto Contador and when asked what race he dreams about winning in his career the answer is clear. The Giro d´Italia.
Enrico Battaglin - 17/11/1989 - Zalf Desiree Fior. Despite having the same last name and hailing from the same town of Marostica (Veneto) Enrico is in no way related to the Vuelta a Espana and the Giro d'Italia winner from 1981, Giovanni Battaglin. Instead Enrico is the son of a former amateur cyclist (Gianni Battaglin) who toured the Italian amateur calendar without much success expect for a few local victories on home soil in the Veneto region located North-east on the Italian boot. Despite his father´s lack of pedigree, Enrico has turned himself into one of Italy’s finest amateur riders. He started racing at age 7, his father was a constant support who followed him to all corners of the province in his early years. To date he possesses an impressive palmeres, with over 200 victories collected within a 15 year career time-span. His most notable wins to date include : Stage and Overall GC - Giro del Rigioni. GP Capodarco. GP San Guiseppe. All some of the more prestigious races on the Italian calendar. Enrico is an excellent climber who thrives in the high mountains besides also possessing a fast turn of speed towards the finishing line in smaller decimated groups. He is in many ways very comparable to one of his own big role models a certain Damiano Cunego. Despite his abilities in the mountains it's more than likely Battaglin will find himself focusing on the undulating 1-day events as a professional. His incredible poor skills against the clock hampers almost all GC aspirations in the most important Stage-Races around. His breakout season last year was eye-opener for many sports directors and true to nature Bruno Reverberi was the first one to react with a pre-contact to the young Italian. The final contact was signed mid september and its now official that Enrico Battaglin will represent the Colnago - CSF Inox squad in 2011. Battaglin is 1. 74cm tall and weighs 64 kilograms.
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