Fabiana Luperini will bring a wealth of world-class experience and knowledge to the men’s peloton next season as she steps into a director’s role at Team Corratec in 2023.
The Italian will become the first woman to direct a men’s pro cycling team in her nation and says she’s proud and enthusiastic to be a part of progress in the sport.
“I am very happy about this opportunity which was given to me. I especially thank Francesco Fassi, who I’ve known for many years, for choosing me. To be the first female sports director of an Italian team is a great source of pride,” Luperini said.
Asked if she placed importance on the masculine or feminine sports director title in Italian – direttore or direttrice – and if the distinction mattered to her, Luperini said that respect was the most important aspect of anyone’s role.
“Just call me Fabiana, no problem. I like that even more. What matters is respect, both personally and for the roles,” Fabiana Luperini said in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport (opens in new tab).
Luperini is one of a handful of women who have earned leadership roles on high-level men’s cycling teams, and she applauds the steps taken to bring more women into management roles that have, for the most part, been held by men.
Robin Morton was the first woman to own and manage a men’s professional team, Gianni Motta-Linea MD, that competed at the Giro d’Italia in the 1980s.
In recent years, Rachel Hedderman (now General Manager at EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) directed the men’s and women’s UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling, Fran Millar became CEO of Team Ineos in 2019, Yana Seel moved from her management role at Astana-Premier Tech to Chief Business Officer at Lotto Soudal in 2021, and Cherie Pridham took on a Director’s role at Israel-Start Up Nation in 2021 before joining Lotto Soudal’s team of Sports Directors in 2022. Human Powered Health announced that it had appointed Ro De Jonckere as the team’s new General Manager in 2023.
“I knew that there were already women directors abroad. As for me, I hadn’t noticed it,” Luperini said. “It’s good to know that female figures have arrived in purely male environments, it’s a good thing,” Luperini said.
“If you think about it, even in women’s teams, the directors, for the most part, are men. On a personal level, I’m proud of it. I’m not afraid. If anything, I’m enthusiastic. And I’m sure the team will help me.
“In general, [women offer a] different point of view and a different sensitivity. Not necessarily better…
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