Santiago Rosero: Cycling management was hit by statements by Richard Carapaz in Tokyo, but we are looking for a radical change | Other Sports | sports

Recognized their directive in September 2021, they are four months of management for Santiago Rosero in command of the Ecuadorian Cycling Federation, “the new Federation” How would the manager prefer to qualify it? points to “a radical change” in the organization of the pedal sport in Ecuador, especially after Richard Carapaz’s statements at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, when the Carchense questioned the lack of support for local athletes.

A first step for the new leadership was to draw up a competition calendar for the different modalities, the cases of BMX, Freestyle, Mountain Bike, track and route, which he assures is the one that “has achieved the most for the country”, although it is also the most “disorganized”. His administration is also moving forward in seeking financial support, a determining factor for the development of its management.

What does this “new Federation” ask for and what does it require?

We ask for unconditional support, because the decisions we make are going to affect a certain established structure; but nevertheless, the change we seek will undoubtedly be positive, but trust that we will lead cycling to be one of the best structured sports at the national level. What we need are resources significant.

For not being an economic sport, or for the investment to achieve achievements?

for everything, because It costs from practicing it to achieving important achievements. For example, to get a medal let’s say in Pan American or South American Games, at least six cyclists are required, around six technicians who are behind, it is a large group involved that we have been asking the different sports authorities since I arrived at the sports management. Cycling is an individual sport that is run in teams, because when you see an athlete on the podium there is a gigantic work behind with people who perform various functions in an established career plan.

And how is the management of those resources going?

The economic will always be the main request, we are working with the private company to join cycling, but the first request is to change the image of the Federation, and that’s where we are.

That is related to the statements of Richard Carapaz after the Olympic gold in Tokyo 2020. How much did that hit?

Much. After that chapter, as a cycling society we were left complicatedbut in the end is the truth of Richard, although we suck managers of federations, the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports, because that is also an obstacle for private companies to open up to us.

Truth of Carapaz or national cycling?

In general, His statements are a truth that we have all experienced, because it also happened to me when I was a runner.

A reality in the present?

Yes because support does not exist makes us there is a lack of a good structure in national cycling, but it has progressed in some way, it has grown, not along with the way our talents grow, but all part of the lack of resources.

After those statements by Carapaz, how was the relationship with you and the current Federation?

We talked and a lot, before and after what he said. We enjoyed the medal, but what he said also struck us, because I knew Richard from the beginning, but after hours of talk we analyze the progress he has had as a cyclist and in my case as a leader. We maintain fluid communication, you have a good relationship.

The accumulated experience in cycling, how to apply it now from the leadership?

I know the internal of cycling, I have lived all the stages that this sport has, from being a cyclist, being a mechanic, going through a masseur, to being a sports director, of clubs and national teams. From all those fields We have given cycling a grain of sand, and we want to continue doing so.

How is your administration advancing at the helm of the Federation?

With recognition from the Ministry of Sport we have been since September 3, We have been working on the new federation for four months. We had a period in which our organization was acephalic due to the appeal from a club of our choice, that process was fulfilled and everything was solved, but It was wasted time for us.

What is the main objective for this “new Federation”, as you call it?

Do a job focused on internal organization, something that is needed because from the ICU (International Cycling Union) they have seen a disorder, not only in Ecuador but as a constant in South America by failing to comply with regulations. We want to tidy up the house, and we start with a schedule of competitions for this season, and already planning for what will be 2023.

How many events are already scheduled this year?

We have around 45 tests with the endorsement of the Federation, for the next one we aspire to about 90 events, which are not necessarily organized by us, but by the cycling people themselves, what we do is govern and regulate the tournaments, with whom we aspire to also raise the ranking national in the different modalities.

How much does your proximity to cycling help your work?

That close relationship with athletes and organizers it makes us know in detail what we need, what we can improve and enhance. In some way my entire directory is closely related to all forms of cycling, in my case I come from the route fulfilling all facets, but we are aware of all of them.

What is the first balance of the existing modalities in national cycling?

We see that the freestyle and the BMX have good organization; but there are also mountain disciplines, the track and route that need development. On the road we have a good international relationship because the door is open for our runners to continue going out, now the interest is to give them activity here so that the observers can come to our tests, that should be established, and look at the kind of corridors that we have.

Does that comprise part of instituting the calendar?

Yes because we seek to solidify a structure so that scouting arrive, not only at the Tour of Ecuador, but to have significant classics, something that we already started with for this new season, we will have the National Cup, a series of tests that we will seek to have mountain stages, circuits, time trials, with which the abilities of our runners can be developed.

Is the route the one that will receive the most boost?

It is the first modality in the country, the one that has given the greatest achievement to national cycling and the one with the greatest growth. for having riders in WorldTour, professional and continental categories, to which we add that there are continental teams in the country; but nevertheless, in our structure is one of the most disorganized. The BMX has a lot of potential, just like the freestyle, that have done significant work, that is why in some way we are copying what has been worked on by these modalities to apply to the rest of the disciplines.

What is the root of this disorganization of road cycling?

Unfortunately, and I must put myself in the first person, We dedicate the work to take teams out of the country, as well as to the national team, somehow we don’t care about the internal structure, Of course, that wasn’t my job either, but that’s what we’re now looking to do with people who can develop it. We seek to organize work and route competitions so as not to have to invest too much in taking our teams and runners abroad, because it is easier to attract the veedores with races and a consolidated national calendar.

More than a decade without an official calendar of tests and modalities, how much has it affected the development of national cycling?

We have experienced this lack of calendar, we know the dynamics of our cycling, informal to communicate and organize events, but we want to change that and people are seeing it that way. The organizers know that they must fulfill obligations for the safety of our athletes, that we will have a general regulation so that we can count on the endorsement of the Federation, because we do not share that each broker competes at their own safety and risk.

How is the issue of licenses for cyclists going?

Is a very hot topic that we meet in the Federation. A few days after taking office there was a BMX test, the most structured modality, but At the time of requesting runners’ licenses, they did not have and we could not allow an event endorsed by us to compete without licenses, which is the permission to run and set the ranking. For that event alone we issued 200 licenses, in this period we have awarded about 400, we expect some 1,500 this year and by the end of our administration (2025) we aspire to have 4,000 graduates. We want to give importance to the license because before it was a document that did not have much benefit, but we are working on it so that cyclists can have incentives to be federated, with even commercial advantages.

Because of your proximity and work, do you feel part of the success of the cyclists of the moment?

I feel part yes, because I have worked with them and in some way I have collaborated in their progress. I think we have put a grain of sand in the achievements of our runners, we have collaborated with cycling from all our facets and we will continue to do so. (D)