(ATR) Recently elected European Cycling Union president Enrico Della Casa may not know what lies around every bend and realizes tough climbs await, however, he appears up for the challenge.
His first order of business is overseeing and salvaging a jam-packed spring event schedule as the continent battles a third wave of the coronavirus.
"We planned to start our season end of March and we already had to postpone a couple of events," Della Casa tells ATR’s Brian Pinelli in the latest video edition of ATR Radio. "We hope to start our season the first of May with the European Cup in Verona.
"We are putting a lot of energy into trying to save and confirm our events.
"The athletes are sending us a lot of questions because they need to prepare for the Olympics and our events are crucial for them," said the Italian sports leader.
Della Casa, 57, stresses that his focus is on grassroots activities, new events, women’s competitions and captivating the youth.
"We are putting a lot of energy into the young people," Della Casa said, listing various new events and disciplines on the UEC calendar. "Having alternative categories are crucial for the development of cycling in Europe. This is really appreciated by the national federations."
Excitement is high for the debut of BMX Freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics.
"It’s really unbelievable what they are able to do on the bike," Della Casa said of the sport’s young competitors. "It’s a fresh discipline for us."
Homepage Photo: EUC
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