Recently, we shared the story of Connection’s first time as the title sponsor of Feltre’s 24 Hours Race. Yet, for three seasons now, the Veneto-based company – which designs and manufactures industrial control panels – has proudly sponsored an emerging club based in its very own municipality: San Vendemiano Velo Club.

“We connected with the company a little over three years ago” says club president Fabrizio Furlan. “It started through our sports director, Sara Girardi. She works at Connection and helps us empowering young athletes. When we invited Connection’s president, Roberto Zuccaro, to our traditional cyclocross presentation, he immediately fell in love with the project.

This led Connection to sponsor our youngest road racing categories, eventually expanding into a main sponsorship for the cyclocross season. Additionally, the company is a driving force behind the ‘Memorial Ciao Gino’: a youth race held in honor of our unforgettable former director.
This year, the race took place on May 17th, right next to the company’s manufacturing plant.

Supporting the next generation.

The bond between Connection and Velo Club stems from shared local roots and a genuine passion for sports. This same passion has long inspired Connection’s CEO, Zuccaro. He sees sports as a vital source of energy and growth, not just for the athletes, but for everyone involved.

Lately, the spotlight has shifted toward cyclocross. This discipline is becoming a family favorite, as it provides a much safer environment for young athletes than traditional road cycling. Velo Club remains a key landmark in the region. The club supports young cyclists every step of the way, from their first rides all the way to competitive levels.

“By supporting this team, we are investing in sportsmanship, hard work, and youth development” explains Zuccaro. “We proudly participated in an event with over 300 young athletes between 6 and 12 years old. It was a wonderful opportunity for many aspiring cyclists to experience the sport for the first time. The event also honored the memory of Gino, the club’s founder and a respected manager whose dedication continues to set an example for everyone”.

Riding for charity in Feltre

Combining work and passion comes naturally to Sara Girardi. She even got Zuccaro himself to suit up in full cycling kit to experience the grueling Feltre’s 24 Hours Race firsthand.

“Sharing this experience with colleagues, fellow cycling enthusiasts and especially our CEO was incredibly rewarding,” says Sara, the youth team’s sports director. “We were also joined by our company technician, Biagio Cucciol. He proudly wore the ‘Connection Blue’ jersey, putting in the kilometers while contributing to the fundraising efforts for the Diamo Energia al Nostro Domani (Powering Our Tomorrow) charity project”.

“I raced up to the Junior category and even won the Cyclocross ‘Giro d’Italia’ as a U15 rider. Today, I love coordinating our group. We have 25 boys and girls in our youth ranks (ages 5 to 12), and 5 in the under-15 category (ages 13 and 14). On top of that, eight of our own kids, along with riders on loan from neighboring clubs, join forces for the winter cyclocross season”.

Competition and passion. Leisure riding and future champions. That is what our journey is all about, and it’s only just beginning. Because cycling speaks a universal language, finding a home even in the most unexpected places.