WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO
© CMteam Live Your Passion
Matteo Trentin and his wife , Claudia Morandini , attending Monaco BEKING Charity Cocktail Party ( Principality of Monaco , 28th November 2021 )
Matteo Trentin ’ s family portrait
© CMteam Live Your Passion
cycle within the Monegasque territory … a means of transport you can use throughout the year to go to work , to do shopping , to enjoy it with your family thanks to the exceptional dry weather of the Riviera . A greater use of bicycles could really relieve congestion in the city traffic . We hope therefore to have in Monaco more areas dedicated to cyclists including children ’ s areas .
The first edition of Monaco BEKING was really a great success and it is becoming a fixed annual rendezvous with many surprises to explore , increasingly involving schools on road safety programs — as I wish with all my heart . It is essential to educate to have good road driving .
: You have been engaged for a long time in raising road safety awareness , what do you think is needed to improve the actual situation ?
MT : It is necessary to change the mentality of car drivers . Overtaking a cyclist in complete safety is still one of the biggest problems . Being in a hurry is often not justified since you have maybe to stop after 200 metres ahead at the red light or for a traffic queue after one kilometre . Obviously , cyclists must behave correctly for their part . But if you follow the rules , you do not take up much space when you are riding a bike .
: How do you feel in the Principality of Monaco ? Why did you choose to settle here ?
MT : Coming from a very Nordic region , we do appreciate the mild weather of this seaside resort , especially during wintertime . Having the need to travel a lot , the proximity to Nice international airport helps . Furthermore , the Monaco educational system allows my children to grow up bilingual . In an increasingly globalized world , knowing many languages and communicating globally is crucial .
I feel the need to enjoy every moment with my children , taking advantage of their young age .
: What does success mean for you ?
MT : For me it is about achieving a goal which could not be necessarily the victory of a race . Making everything go according to a specific plan makes you satisfied . Or it can be a shared objective as happened in 2018 at the Spanish Vuelta . Simon Yates was given the trophy but the whole Team behind him worked precisely , day by day , to get this result .
: Which race has forever marked your cycling career ?
MT : What always comes to mind is the European Championships I won in Glasgow in 2018 . That win meant a lot to me since four months before I had injured my back at the Paris — Roubaix . While I was hospitalized , I thought I could do the next championship and I wanted to recover soon and prove to myself I was back on track . Glasgow was the right place and , despite the very wet weather , I did it !
: What are the three most important things in your life to pass on your children ?
MT : The first thing is undoubtedly the pursuit of happiness . You have always to do what you want to do . Then , it is vital to enjoy what you have now since you never know what the future holds .
: How do you think the next generation will approach cycling ? How do you see tomorrow ’ s professional cycling ?
MT : I do hope there will be potential professionals among current children . As a matter of fact , I do not know how many parents would allow their sons to ride bicycles on dangerous roads open to traffic in deeply urbanized areas .
As for the promising new professional riders , they are all strong , fast and much more prepared than in my generation . They are aware of power meters , of the right training to do , etc . Their knowledge is deeper than before . In our times we were more unaware and prone to imitate others ’ behaviours . Maybe their career will last less considering that they usually start being competitive earlier , when they are nineteen or twenty , contrary to what happened in my times when you used to kick off around twenty-three . Then you have always to consider a decade of intense activity .
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