"Second star to the right this is the path and straight on, until morning then you'll find the road yourself it leads to the island that doesn't exist"
Edoardo Bennato
The road at Via dei Mille 9 in Castel Bolognese actually leads to an island that is there: the happy island that Daniele Caroli inaugurated in 1992, the Caroli Sport Bici Center. The only risk is that when you enter the shop, Daniele Caroli's bright smile might distract you from the wonder of the place.
To avoid the mistake, let's start right from this magical place. The pulsing heart, as it should be, is the workshop. Used and greased just right, still steaming from repairs, it's a workshop that has learned to update itself and embrace the electric world. An authorized Bosch center, it has made training courses its pride and joy.
Now let's talk about the hands, the golden hands of Luca, a Mechanic with a capital M to whom Daniele has given knowledge, trust, and that natural gift: Love. When Daniele says: "No one has ever left here with their bike's problem unresolved", he is absolutely right. Anyone can verify this.
And in this excellent center, there's also Daniela Caroli. Daniele has passed on to her his very essence, his love for bicycles, and the guarantee of a generational transition, so rare and precious. The understanding between Daniele and Daniela goes beyond a good father-daughter relationship and contributes to the magic of the place.
Then there's him, Daniele Caroli. A professional from 1982 to 1990. He achieved excellent results, including victories in the Giro di Campania, Milano-Torino, Trofeo Pantalica, Gran Premio Industria e Commercio di Prato, and two second places with Australian Michael Wilson in the Trofeo Baracchi.
Daniele is one of the pillars of Romagnolo Cycling. His past with Alfa Lum and Del Tongo has inextricably linked him to the figures of Marino Amadori, Maurizio Rossi, Romano Randi, Orlando Maini, Marco Zen, the historic mechanic Dino Falconi, and another Maurizio, who at that moment captured his World Championship victory along with his official adoption in Romagna: Maurizio Fondriest, World Champion in 1988 in Renaix.
Daniele radiates intelligence and wisdom, kindness and foresight. Certainly the result of a life lived and traversed with courage. His "island that is there" stands as a testament and keeps alive, if needed, the passion for our beloved sport.