It was already a risk to award an indoor cycling event to a country where artistic cycling has never taken place before – but it was worth it. The first round of the Artistic Cycling World Cup 2024 in Tarquinia, the Etruscan city north of Rome, was an experience for indoor cycling, coaches, assistants, and all the fans who traveled there, and sportingly an unexpected success.
Discussions and requests preceded this event. Luigi Bielli of the Italian federation was persuaded for a long time. He also found great supporters for our inquiries. With great commitment and passion, Danielle Conversini’s team, along with the board of the cycling department of Polisport Tarquinia, embarked on this venture. It was palpable from the first meeting in October of the previous year that the decision to host the event was not a mistake. It was clear, of course, that we would not find the conditions as we would in a club with expertise. However, this was often exceeded by the desire to get to know our sport.
Based on the experience of the previous year in Kisvarda, such great encouragement and interest were not to be expected. It was an unusually long journey for all participants.
The results and number of participants can be found on our homepage.
Although many organizational tasks were clarified and discussed in many phone calls and video conferences, ICWW supported the setup and preparations in the sports hall with a team. Stefan Born, Florian, and Rolf Halter had already arrived on Thursday before the event and provided technical and practical assistance with both major and minor questions regarding the unfamiliar preparations.
However, it was not just about preparing for the artistic cycling competition; we wanted and offered an overall package of indoor cycling there. Supported by Frederik Render, a cycle ball player from Mainz-Ebersheim, Frederik mobilized three more cycle ball players. These two teams undertook the hardships of the long journey. With support from the fans, the well-attended hall also experienced the familiar good atmosphere during the cycle ball games.
It was once again a special task to organize the equipment for the games. The boards were set up on site and also adorned with sponsor banners. The goals posed larger problems. Self-construction was not financially viable. Therefore, another solution had to be found. Transport was also not a sustainable solution. Fortunately, RV Ailingen was able to intervene helpfully.
