Under-23 riders Raccagni and Bagnara, along with Maltese Buttigieg: 3 stagiaires for Team Polti Kometa

It’s not just a three-month dream but a concrete opportunity to showcase their abilities alongside professionals to earn a spot on the squad. In cycling, too, there are internships which allow management and technical staff to evaluate rider’s suitability for a permanent position. This year Polti Kometa welcomes three riders who will race the end of the 2024 season with the ProTeam.

As part of the increasingly strong collaboration with Malta (which will become co-title sponsor in 2025) we have 27-year-old Aidan Buttigieg: the national champion of the Mediterranean archipelago for two consecutive years, he has spent his entire career in Australia, his second home. Born and raised in Melbourne, indeed, he comes from Saint George, a Continental structure in the Oceanian country, but his Maltese roots run deep: paternal grandparents from Gozo, maternal grandparents from the main island. Here are his enthusiastic statements: “After many years as an Elite, I want to thank Malta and Team Polti Kometa for allowing me to experience this unique opportunity. I’m sure that racing and training in such a high-level environment will help me grow tremendously as an athlete and as a person. It’s an honor for me and I’m excited about this upcoming experience!”

The other two stagiaires are members of Polti Kometa Under-23: 21-year-old lombard Gabriele Raccagni, a generous rider with good sprint and time trial skills, and his peer from Romagna, Luca Bagnara, a climber who triumphed in the Volta a Portugal do Futuro two months ago.

Raccagni: “It’s a great adventure, a great joy. I’ll debut at the Tour du Limousin, it’s going to be a battle to stay with the professionals in the race but it’s nice to try to make the most of these opportunities for the team’s sake and my future. I’ll surely learn a lot from teammates who have been working at this level for a long time.”

Bagnara: “I’m happy and proud that my commitment and results are yielding such significant fruits. I’ve always wanted to turn professional, and now that I have a tangible opportunity I have to seize it. I’ll give my all, and the fact that this is happening within the Polti Kometa environment, where I feel very comfortable, is a great strength.”

“In a season of ups and downs for us, where injuries have particularly hindered our ability to perform consistently, the management asked me who we could test as stagiaires – explains Rafa Diaz Justo, their sports director in the Under 23 – and these two names quickly emerged: Gabriele can provide strong support for his teammates and in reduced sprints, while Luca, after his victory in Portugal, has shown his potential in the Giro d’Italia Next Gen where he demonstrated how much he can contribute in the mountains.”

Fran Contador, the team’s general manager, added: “We are proud that our U23 riders can try out as stagiaires in the ProTeam. One of the primary goals of the Fundación Contador is to provide opportunities for talents and allow them to confirm their ability to make the big leap. The presence of a rider like Aidan also holds significant meaning for us and our partner Visit Malta.”

Sport manager Ivan Basso concludes: “We have chosen two riders who have been with us since 2022 (Raccagni) and 2023 (Bagnara) whose growth we have greatly appreciated, not only in technical-athletic terms but also in their attitude and solidity as athletes. For young riders like them, this will mean getting a taste of professionalism for the first time in their lives. For us, it means continuing a project that develops talent and works with careful planning. We are also honored by the Maltese presence with an experienced profile like Buttigieg.”

For examples of athletes currently in the Polti Kometa roster, Fran Muñoz and Davide De Cassan officially joined the team this season after being stagiaires at the end of last summer: Muñoz coming from the Under-23 squad, De Cassan from Cycling Team Friuli. In 2023 Andrea Pietrobon was promoted to the ProTeam from the Under-23 after being a stagiarie at the end of 2022. One year earlier, David Martín had followed the same path.

In conclusion being a stagiaire is a huge opportunity for both riders and the team. Best of luck to Aidan Buttigieg, Gabriele Raccagni and Luca Bagnara!