The strength of people, the value of the team
by Davide Cassani
What brings managers and athletes together is not simply the ability to set goals, but the determination to pursue them. Yet the deepest bond between the world of sport and that of business lies in building teams. Whether it is a climb on a bicycle or a business project, the approach does not change: determination, consistency, courage and passion are essential.
However, I believe that the deepest connection between the world of sport and that of business lies elsewhere: the ability to build teams.
Throughout my life, I have had the opportunity to experience cycling from many different perspectives. I have been a professional rider, a commentator, head coach of the National Team, and the founder of a youth team. In each of these roles, I have found a common element: results are achieved when people share a common goal and when everyone is placed in the conditions to give their best.
This was true when I was racing, and it is even more relevant today, as professional cycling teams increasingly resemble businesses. Athletes are supported by numerous professionals who take care of every aspect, from the masseur to the mechanic, from the coach to the nutritionist, from the team manager to the press officer. Everything is planned and nothing is left to chance, and the key to success lies in building a team that works, where everyone plays an important role.
In cycling, there is a role that perfectly embodies this concept: the domestique. The domestique, as I was, is the rider who competes for the success of the team and its leader. Some may consider this role as secondary, but that is not the case. It is made of a different kind of substance compared to that of a champion, certainly — but it is indispensable. Because without this contribution, the champion often does not win.
During my career, I was selected for the World Championships nine times, and I remember that even though I was not the strongest rider, the head coach always made me feel as though I were the most important member of the team. And when I became head coach, I tried to do the same with my riders.
The same applies in business. Every organisation needs different talents, complementary skills, and people who are able to work together. The real challenge for those leading a team — or a company — is not to assemble the best individuals, but to create the conditions in which each person, with their own characteristics, can contribute to a shared result.
Sport also teaches another valuable lesson: defeat is not failure, but an opportunity for growth. I have learned that improving oneself matters more than defeating others. Opponents are often the ones who push us to raise the bar and discover abilities we did not know we had. It is a principle that applies both in competition and in the workplace.
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Davide Cassani
Davide Cassani is an Italian sports executive, former professional cyclist and television commentator, and one of the most authoritative figures in Italian cycling. Considered one of the finest domestiques of his generation, he competed professionally from 1982 to 1996, taking part in 11 editions of the Giro d’Italia, 9 Tours de France and 9 Road World Championships. After retiring, he became a commentator for Rai, helping to bring cycling closer to a broader audience, and from 2014 to 2021 he served as head coach of the Italian national road cycling team, leading the national squad to significant international success. In 2019, he founded the Team Technipes #inEmiliaRomagna Caffè Borbone, an Elite and Under-23 semi-professional cycling team created to help young talents develop their potential within a structure supported by highly qualified staff and technical experts. Since 2022, he has been a member of the Board of Directors of Sidi Sport.