(LaPresse) – At dawn, on the dirt roads, you can hear the sound of breathing, the gravel beneath the wheels and the voices offering encouragement. Then the group sets off and their differences give way to the road, the exertion and the desire to move forward together. This is the spirit of SuperEroica 2026, the inclusive cycling project promoted by the Allianz UMANA MENTE Foundation in collaboration with L’Eroica in Gaiole in Chianti. From 2 to 5 October, Team SuperEroica – comprising 30 participants, including athletes with disabilities, support staff and team members – shared an experience of sport, inclusion and a sense of belonging. On Sunday 4 October, the entire team tackled the 46-kilometre ‘Passeggiata Valle del Chianti’ inclusive route; the day before, some athletes had set off at 6 am for the more challenging 136-kilometre ‘Medio Crete Senesi’ route. Two distances, one goal: to reach the finish line together, leaving no one behind. Nicola Corti, Secretary-General of the Allianz UMANA MENTE Foundation, said: “The SuperEroica embodies our vision of inclusion: creating real opportunities to participate, express one’s talent and grow together. The initiative launched in 2022 has yielded significant results, culminating in the creation of the FAUMCUP and enabling athletes with intellectual and relational disabilities to take part in competitive sport. Seeing the team tackle the roads of Chianti together confirms the value of sport as a means of participation, autonomy and empowerment.”
SuperEroica 2026: on the dirt roads of Chianti, a team cycled beyond all barriers
(LaPresse) – At dawn, on the dirt roads, you can hear the sound of breathing, the gravel beneath the wheels and the voices offering encouragement. Then the group sets off and their differences give way to the road, the exertion and the desire to move forward together. This is the spirit of SuperEroica 2026, the inclusive cycling project promoted by the Allianz UMANA MENTE Foundation in collaboration with L’Eroica in Gaiole in Chianti. From 2 to 5 October, Team SuperEroica – comprising 30 participants, including athletes with disabilities, support staff and team members – shared an experience of sport, inclusion and a sense of belonging. On Sunday 4 October, the entire team tackled the 46-kilometre ‘Passeggiata Valle del Chianti’ inclusive route; the day before, some athletes had set off at 6 am for the more challenging 136-kilometre ‘Medio Crete Senesi’ route. Two distances, one goal: to reach the finish line together, leaving no one behind. Nicola Corti, Secretary-General of the Allianz UMANA MENTE Foundation, said: “The SuperEroica embodies our vision of inclusion: creating real opportunities to participate, express one’s talent and grow together. The initiative launched in 2022 has yielded significant results, culminating in the creation of the FAUMCUP and enabling athletes with intellectual and relational disabilities to take part in competitive sport. Seeing the team tackle the roads of Chianti together confirms the value of sport as a means of participation, autonomy and empowerment.”