“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”

– Henry David Thoreau, Walden; or, Life in the Woods (1854)

Can you smell the scent of Africa?
It is impossible not to be enthralled, even from where we are, even from afar. We chose to celebrate on the cover not so much the world champion (you already know who that is…), but rather the embrace of a new people on the roads of great cycling. Roads that intersect with life, races that intercept protests, as happened in Madrid during the Vuelta.

Cycling cannot isolate itself from the world, because its playing field is the world itself: roads travelled every day by those going to work, those protesting, those celebrating. There are no barriers, because racing has no roofs or gates. This is what makes it fascinating and, at the same time, vulnerable: riders live in a bubble, with their own rules and rhythms, but sooner or later that bubble touches reality and has to deal with it.”

And all this can only give rise to an uncontrollable desire to leave, to put oneself to the test, to take a break and do something just for oneself.

Some contents:

• Sunspots, or rather the 2025 World Cup in Kigali.
• I have time. Giulio Pellizzari opens his heart.
• Our account of London-Edinburgh-London.
• What makes an event like Badlands, in the Gorafe desert, unique over the years.
• Omar Di Felice reflects on the fragility of cyclists.
• VIA Race, following in the footsteps of Germanicus.
• Live steel: we had a stainless steel frame welded by the guys at Barco Cicli.

… and much more!

[alvento is a state of mind]