The new Prime Minister, and his passion for cycling

One characteristic of the new Prime Minister, Mario Monti, that is also common to the people of Varese is, undoubtedly, his passion for cycling, both as an observer and as a participant. This passion began when he was a child, and it could not have been otherwise, if we consider the friendship between Monti and Alfredo Ambrosetti, who is known throughout the world as an economic consultant, but also as the son of the legendary “Togn”, former chairman of “S.C. Binda” and promoter of the 1951 World Championship. And it was at that championship, which was won by Kübler, that the young Mario (at the tender age of 8) was in the crowd watching; and many years later, he did not want to miss the World Championships that took place in Varese.

So, for the 2008 Word Championship, Monti arrived early in the morning at the house of his friend Alfredo Ambrosetti, and was given a very special driver, Renzo Oldani, the owner of the Binda Team, and vice chairman of the World Championship, who took him to the racecourse. Oldani recalls that special trip. “I took on the job of accompanying the authorities, before and during the race, because some of them wanted to watch the World Championship from the team support car, at least the first few laps. So I went to collect Monti and Ambrosetti (see picture: D Carone Photo 80 – SC Binda) about an hour before the start of the race of the professionals, but time was against me. So, once everybody had jumped into the car, I gave my son the keys and I got onto the motorbike, which preceded the car. It was just a few minutes before the start, the streets were open only to the service cars but, to get the convoy to arrive on time, I sped everything up. I wasn’t happy, so I took them on a lap of the race in the car, a “journey” that was anything but leisurely, because in those situations we drive quickly.” On the other hand, Oldani is renowned among those who have had him as a driver during the races. “Well,” the “Binda” chairman laughs, “when we had the chance to meet Monti again, at a wedding, he immediately remembered that race in the car around the streets of Varese. But, fortunately, he was laughing at the time.”