Dagnoni, cyclist before president: "My Liberation Days experienced as a rider"

Before embarking on his entrepreneurial and... political-cycling career, the current president of the Italian Cycling Federation, Cordiano Dagnoni, was quite a good amateur rider. One of those driven by a real and genuine passion for the "sweet fatigue" of cycling. One of those who competed in the Gran Premio Liberazione on more than one occasion, left speechless by the beauty of the stage where you find yourself pedaling and jostling for a place in the sun at Caracalla.

"One of the most beautiful courses I've ever raced on," says Dagnoni bluntly, with the emotion of someone who, for a moment, takes off the president's hat and puts back on the rider's. "Even though it's a rather nervous circuit that often forces you to ride 'a pecora,' as riders say, head down and pushing hard to stay with the group, the feeling of passing and repassing those walls has a charm all its own! I'm really happy that in 2021 such a beautiful race was revived, chapeau to Claudio Terenzi and all his staff, from him to the volunteers who are always anonymous but do a great job."

When did you race the Liberazione, and with what results?
"In 1986 and 1987, the two years after Gianni Bugno's victory. The first year I was a bit intimidated by the prestige and level of the race, and I was satisfied just to finish in the group. In '87, however, I underestimated myself and didn't believe in it enough. The characteristics of the course suited my track rider profile well; up front, only a small group of riders remained, but I couldn't close the gap that opened on the last climb. In the end, Konychev won, but if I had raced more smartly, I could have at least finished in the top ten."

Which team did you ride for?
"For the family team, Dari-Mec: with me were riders like Stefano Breme and Enrico Pezzetti. A few years earlier, I had raced for Nuova Baggio San Siro with Amadio, Allocchio, and other excellent riders."

The cover photos of this article bear witness to some of Cordiano Dagnoni the cyclist's youth victories.
Returning to the present and the Liberazione, tomorrow morning the FCI president will be at the Campidoglio for the press conference presenting the 76th Caracalla race.