There are heroes and then there are super heroes. Indeed the super “heroic”. Heroic in Gaiole it is a river of passion and enthusiasts. Nine thousand souls who pedal in search of lost time with the proud awareness of being part of a group that is tracing a path into the future of an eternal sport. Among them also the «SuperEroici» of the Allianz UMANA MENTE Foundation, a group of cyclists with intellectual-relational or physical disabilities who will venture onto the Tuscan dirt roads from 2022. Ten athletes with disabilities who demonstrated how cycling is an inclusive sport, capable of breaking down barriers and enhancing diversity.

Not alone. Also alongside them were 25 other people, including athletic trainers, Paralympic athletes, a doctor, volunteers and staff. They completed the 46 km route, while a smaller group managed to tackle the challenging 135 km «Medio – Crete Senesi» route, with over 2,200 meters of altitude difference. The joy and effort of Eroica is the same for everyone and along the way they were able to recharge at the «Apesosta», a refreshment point organized by children with disabilities and their educators in Borgo San Felice and taste the honey produced by the hives and other organic products from the Orto Felice, a social garden designed by the Allianz UMANA MENTE Foundation, which brings together young people with disabilities, offering them work and local elderly people who teach the arts of cultivating the land.

“SuperEroica” is a social cycling project initiated by the Allianz UMANA MENTE Foundation to allow people with disabilities to take part in Eroica. Requested two years ago by the General Director of Allianz SpA and President of the Allianz UMANA MENTE Foundation, Maurizio Devescovi, it came to life thanks to the collaboration offered by the organizers of the Eroica and in recent years it has become an integral part of an event that makes “participation” its philosophy. It all started from Piergiorgio Pizzo, a boy with disabilities from Orto Felice, who years ago expressed his passion for cycling to the Foundation and this is how the “SuperEroica” project began. This year the “SuperEroici” were able to count on the support of Roberto Lencioni, aka “Carube”, considered one of the best mechanics in Italian professional cycling, as well as Cipollini’s historic mechanic, who supplied some of the bicycles, fixed them, prepared them and “assisted” them during the race.

But it was a real team effort. In addition to the “Carube” they also gave a precious hand Robert Carrara And Andrea Camerana of Cicli Drali Milano with the supply of other bicycles and uniforms to the group, as well as pedaling side by side with the “SuperEroici”. Among the members of the 2024 “SuperEroica” Team stand out important names such as Fabio Triboligold medal in paracycling at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, e Silvia EpisTechnical Director of the National Youth Team of the Italian Cycling Federation. But one thing leads to another. And so after Eroica we will continue to cycle and, thanks to contacts between the Allianz Foundation, the Italian Cycling Federation and the Italian Paralympic Sports Federation, the first Italian Championships for people with intellectual-relational disabilities will start this year. And the Superheroes will be there.