From the gray sky of Milan's Navigli to the fog on the outskirts of Treviso, a winter telephone line connects us to Stefano Zanatta at the start of the Polti VisitMalta season. And the Veneto coach is happy to spend a late afternoon chatting with us: his team, his role, cycling.

Let's start from the beginning, Stefano: you joined this team when it changed category in 2021 with the Eolo Kometa name. This will be your fifth season as a Professional team, always with you in the team car. What did Ivan Basso's call mean to you?

"I was gratified: it was nice to see once again the connection we had during the Fassa Bortolo and Liquigas years. Especially because Ivan had already contacted me in March 2020, in the Covid year and the last year of Kometa Xstra as a Continental team. Initially, I refused - at my age, I didn't feel ready to take on a project almost from scratch. However, in November, there was another contact: Fran Contador and Ivan were looking for an experienced Italian profile, and they were thinking of me. I accepted, with only two elements missing to complete the roster: we went for Gavazzi, who we saw as useful to the cause and who indeed was (first as a veteran rider, then as staff collaborator), and Fortunato, whom we had identified as an important talent but needed to understand if he could be released from Vini Zabù."

In the end, he was free to transfer to you and gave you a crazy satisfaction on the Zoncolan...
"The first months were tough, but thanks to his talent and the work of everyone, particularly the high-altitude training with our coach Carlos Barredo, he presented himself at that Giro d'Italia in the best possible conditions".

What is the method, the peculiarity that identifies Stefano Zanatta?
"The propensity to take responsibility while knowing how to listen: the riders, other sports directors, every element of the staff and management. I truly love to confront everyone, from technicians to press officers. You can make mistakes, but if you manage to maintain a coherent line, it's easier to bring out the best in each person. Moreover, I particularly care about not 'throwing riders around randomly' in various races, but rather asking myself and establishing together with colleagues and management exactly where we can employ them: each new acquisition and each of our athletes in a race's starting list is there precisely for a reason, because there's a study of what they can give and what I can ask of them. I'm pleased to note that riders who move to higher categories after working with me recognize this".

How is your team organized?
"We're not that far from the big teams: we rigorously use internal trainers and guarantee services and skills worthy of professionalism. Along with the already mentioned Barredo, three trainers work daily with the guys, we have a great team of masseurs and mechanics (additionally, Simone Zanatta, his son, is the team's 'physio', ed.), to whom in the last two years have been added the Spanish nutritionist team from Emen4Sport and the medical team from the University of Florence coordinated by Dr. Giulio Tempesti. This way, we manage to bring riders to races who are always ready and motivated".

Don't you miss the World Tour a bit?
"No, especially now that it has become so large and stressful. I have to deal with my identity card and the energy that diminishes compared to twenty years ago. I much prefer being able to work still in a human way as in Polti VisitMalta: twenty athletes, staff in the 'right' quantity and cohesive, composed of people who do certain jobs out of passion. We have fewer secrets, there's continuous information exchange and a more direct connection with the guys, more 'down-to-earth' in the good sense of the term: with us, people still call each other and don't just exchange data, we also talk about problems and difficulties. Among the teachings of the 'iron sergeant' Ferretti during the mythical Fassa days, I carry with me the importance of retreats as moments where you already understand the riders, as people and as athletes, far more than at races. We all row in the same direction and the results show".

On average, 4 victories per year: Is the goal of raising this bar realistic?
"We can definitely try to turn some podium finishes and last year's unfortunate photofinishes into wins, but we can't expect too many victories in the year when the three-year ranking will be decided and World Tour teams will hunt for 'second-tier' races to increase their points. What's realistic and necessary is to race proactively and make ourselves appreciated in the most prestigious events, with the dream - which sometimes can come true - of anticipating the leaders of the strongest teams: like Davide Bais's success at Campo Imperatore in the 2023 Giro, who last year was caught just ten kilometers from the finish at Sanremo. You know, victories also have different weights: if you already win a Giro stage, the total number of other wins becomes relative."

You worked at Bardiani before Covid and now you're at Polti: Is it becoming increasingly difficult for Professional teams to compete with World Tour teams?
"Yes, the gap is widening, which makes it more complicated to attract investors and sponsors. Also, because the most talented riders, with some pleasant exceptions, tend to go directly to the World Tour or their Development teams, while Professional teams become a second choice. As a result, this is causing a crisis in the Under 23 category, which is also reflected in the closure of some teams, even historic ones: we ourselves have ended our Under 23 team, keeping only the Pro Team and Juniors. Moreover, there's an inequality in calendars, given that we and the WT are in the same ranking but don't have the opportunity to participate in the same races: we have to hope for invitations and wild cards, which we're not entirely certain about at this moment. A system that needs to be reviewed, where it's increasingly difficult to obtain good results if you start with fewer resources. Of course, when you do achieve them, they have even more value."

What calendar have you prepared and are you preparing for 2025?
"Following what was just mentioned, we'll race slightly less, especially at the beginning, due to missed invitations. Regarding the Giro and other RCS Sport races, I hope their executives will have the good sense to judge worthy the way we've always raced. Talking about the races we're currently sure to tackle, it'll be the usual mix of events that suits our characteristics perfectly. The big novelty will be the Qinghai Lake in China, at the beginning of July".