Twice the Six Days of Berlin, twice Rotterdam, but also Geneva and those of Fiorenzuola and Pordenone. And never mind if they now often reduce to four, three or even two days. In Italy, which has seen track cycling grow immensely in the last decade and a half, in the western hinterland of Milan a boy grew up who, instead of idolizing Coppi, Merckx, Pantani and Sagan, had Patrick Sercu, Danny Clark, Iljo Keisse and Elia Viviani on his metaphorical "bedroom posters". What do they have in common? Being track cyclists. Even better: being six-day racers. The strong passion of the 2005-born Alessio Salvadeo.

The imprinting with velodromes for this young athlete, son of former rider Roberto Salvadeo, occurred at a very tender age in Busto Garolfo. Then the transition to Pro Bike, first trainings in Montichiari velodrome and at the Dalmine cycling school. A two-year period as U17 during the pandemic between Cicli Fiorin and GB Team, squads where multi-discipline is at home: in fact, Alessio doesn't even shy away from some cyclocross races. As a Junior, however, in Casalese Armofer, he focuses entirely on the road-track combination, definitively preferring winter pedaling on lenticular wheels to mud and fat wheels.

Last year began the rumba of the dear old Six Days, a little tour of central-northern Europe well combined with road racing even in his first year as an Under 23 in Igino Andreis' Trentino Cycling Team. "Here they gave me time to mature and the freedom to do all the track activity I wanted, I couldn't ask for better and it wasn't a given" Alessio states with fresh clarity.

"I'm always with my family, who are super involved in cycling, where I've always lived in Casorezzo, at most sometimes I do training camps with Trentino Cycling Team in Riva del Garda. However, in the last three months I lived in the Netherlands, a bit in Amsterdam and a bit in Alkmaar, hosted by two families with cyclist children: there I had the opportunity to train and race, always followed remotely by my coach Fabrizio Di Somma. I breathed the 360-degree love for cycling that exists there and in turn fell in love with a specialty I had only heard about: the stayer, a very fast motor-paced bike with 24-inch front wheels and an inverted fork, which was great in the historic Six Days and for which there is no World Championship, only a specific European Championship. In Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands it has remained in vogue, I'm happy to have tried the stayer in a race and hope to do it again."

"Racing in the Under 23 category, names change often because as soon as you're successful among U23s you move to Elite races, but I would say Belgians and Dutch. I can also pleasantly say that the enthusiasm and participation of the audience I saw in the 'nordic' Six Days are very similar to what I've seen in Italy."

"As U23 essentially yes, among the Elite and professionals I've mainly seen Matteo Donegà and sometimes Elia Viviani and Michele Scartezzini."

"Yes, although hotels are covered by the organizers. Anyway, we U23s don't receive any salary."

"I dedicate myself to endurance and all omnium specialties. However, my absolute favorite is the Madison: it couldn't be otherwise, in the Six Days it's the 'queen race' and I love the teamwork that is created with the partner, I'm passionate about the mix of technique and tactics that must be added to mere strength."

"As a Junior, I started winning some track races, including an omnium at the UCI center in Aigle, but I'll never forget the 3rd place in a Madison in Geneva last year: I was paired with Swiss veteran Loïc Perizzolo, former European champion in Elimination. In just one race he taught me so much, I truly carry that moment in my heart. The most recent result is sixth place in the Rotterdam Six Days. Anyway, it's not rhetoric to say that in certain Six Days, just being at the start, with the numerous requests organizers receive, is already a significant result."

"I managed to combine the first races with the Trentino team and my diploma at the Labor High School in Milan: given the institute's focus on sports, I found the right understanding from professors and we managed to accommodate every need. I followed a national calendar and I like to remember the Coppa Caduti Nervianesi on April 25th, where I raced on home roads. In general, this alternation between road and track suits me very much and I intend to replicate it in my second U23 year: now I'm enjoying the holidays, then track starts again at the end of January and road at the end of February."

"I haven't yet reached the right level, I've only happened to cross paths with some athletes and technicians like national coach Marco Villa, whom I greatly respect also for his past as a six-day racer. Certainly, my dream is to mature as a cyclist to the point of earning beautiful satisfactions: professionalism? National team? It's not the time to set precise goals or mention specific races."

"Certainly! But I must admit that my most 'sentimental' thoughts are for the Busto Garolfo track. There I'm truly at home and I would like to thank the great Marino Fusar Poli."

"First and foremost Luca Colombo, sports director in Casalese: he managed the transition from 'play' to more serious commitment excellently, knowing how to give the right encouragement and forming me characterially. Finally, a precious family friend like Fabio Perego, always ready to lend a hand."