How were you appointed?
Francesca Mannori (F. M.): At the beginning of November, the UCI gives us all our appointments for the season. The UCI Commissaires Commission is in charge of setting up the calendar for all of us, and we have about ten days to accept it, or to say if we’re not available at some point of the season and they find a replacement. Of course, I said yes for the Tour de France!
How important is it for you to be at the head of the Commissaires Panel of the Tour de France?
F.M.: I feel like this is a privilege. We all know the Tour de France is the biggest race in the world, so this is very important to me. It’s a landmark in my career. We always aim for something more, and I will continue looking ahead, but this is a major step, an achievement.
What does the Tour de France mean to you?
F.M.: The Tour is unique, there is no other race like this. As a fan, I always followed it. And when we become Commissaires, many of us want to be appointed in the most important races. I don’t want to say this is the end of a journey, but it’s something that I’ve hoped for, and now it becomes a reality.
What experience have you had already in the Tour de France?
F.M.: I was part of the Commissaires Panel in 2017 and also last year. It was a really good experience, something important for me because it gave me the opportunity to learn how this race works. I enjoyed last year’s experience very much and I’m sure I learned a lot of things that will come useful to me now that I’m not a member of the Commissaires Panel, but the chief.
“There shouldn’t be any difference whether one is a man or a woman. The question is: does that person have the qualifications for the role?”
How did you get into cycling to begin with?
F.M.: Cycling is important in my family, because my father, Antonio Mannori, is a cycling journalist for a local newspaper in the area of Florence, La Nazione. I went to see local races with him on Sundays, and I learned there was a route to become a regional Commissaire. I started in 1993.
How much has your job as a Commissaire changed since then?
F.M.: A lot! From regional level, I had to pass an examination to reach national level before I eventually got to the international stage. And the job has changed because cycling has changed. Just looking back at five years ago, the sport has changed a lot, and we are adapting our way to officiate according to the new challenges this involves. For example, the speed in the race and the strategies evolve, so we have to adapt. Also, media, and especially social media, have had a great impact on our job.
There’s a new change now: you’re the first woman to be appointed President of the Commissaires Panel of a Grand Tour…
F.M.: I think there shouldn’t be any difference whether one is a man or a woman. The question is: does that person have the qualifications for the role? But I understand this is special because gender equality is important for the UCI. It’s also important for my colleagues, the other women who are Commissaires. There are a lot more women commissaires now than when I started, and that’s a good thing.
Do you feel a responsibility?
F.M.: It is, in the sense that I may be an example for other women, to see that they can achieve something big. But I don’t feel that responsibility. My responsibility is to do a good job for the Tour and for the Commissaires that will be there. I’m focused on being ready to face the challenges of the Tour de France with my colleagues. If other people see me as an example, I accept it, but it’s not up to me.
What would make a successful Tour de France for you this summer?
F.M.: I want the rider who deserves it to win. That means there are no foul plays, no infringements to the rules… If I can have a fair Tour de France in all aspects, I will be happy. It’s very important that I can rely on my team. There will be 16 people with me in the panel, and I need to create a good atmosphere with them, that’s the first step, and then I hope nothing bad happens in the race. We are here to make sure the rider who wins has the greatest sporting merit.