Cycling, Elena Serangeli and Team Luiss-BMW prepare for Gran Fondo Città dei Papi

Sunday, May 30, Team Luiss-BMW Cycling will participate in the Gran Fondo Città dei Papi, valid for the National Championship GF and MF ACSI 2021. In Anagni, will also be awarded the 1st University Cycling Trophy “Foro Italico”. Elena Serangeli, athlete and Team Manager of the team, told us the emotion of the restart.

Elena, what does it mean for you to return to compete after these months of stop? What is your state of mind?

I’m living it very well. I had the news of the resumption of competitions recently, so I immediately started to train very intensely. I can’t wait to resume, both to bring home some good results and to relive the experience itself. I miss being with my teammates and having moments to share with the team.

How have you been able to combine sports with your academic career first and your work career now?

I graduated in 2018 and have been working ever since. I have always managed to combine the two activities: indeed, sport allows me to relieve accumulated stress. Thanks to Luiss, I can do it very easily and in good company.

Not many people know that there is also a Giro d’Italia Donne, called “Giro Rosa”. Do you think the competition will ever reach the same level of popularity as the men’s Giro? Is there also a gender gap problem in your sport?

Unfortunately, cycling is a bit like soccer: it’s a pretty macho sport. Many people don’t even know about the existence of the Giro Rosa. At the races, the ratio of women to men is 1 to 10. There are fewer of us, but we defend ourselves.

What are your goals for this season?

I hope to do a great result, for sure I’m aiming at the podium for the whole championship. I’ve been training a lot and I’ve also been working with a sports nutritionist, so I’m very confident that I’ll be able to do well, and the same goes for my teammates.