At just 8 years old when Stefano was still living in Brazil (where he lived from birth till age of 12) he started riding bikes like most kids do. He got a bike for Christmas but that is where things went a little different.

When he was young he lived in a gated neighborhood with lots of security guards in Brazil. The neighborhood was still under construction in some parts and there were lots of open areas. Together with some neighbor friends they built ramps in these open areas, but every now and then the security guards in their cars would get called by the “friendly” neighbors and the only way not to get in trouble with their parents was to get on the bike and run. Well that became so much fun to that we eventually they started doing things to get the security guards attention. First it was just the jumps, next it was riding in certain areas that they shouldn’t have been riding on and then it got worse when Stefano would go out in the mornings, pick up pine cones from the trees in those same open areas, put them in garbage bags and hide them. Later that night they would burn them and by making fires it was a sure way the guards would get called! “Seriously it was fail proof!”

Racing for Stefano started with a local mountain bike race. Stefano talked his parents into taking him where he placed 10th out of 12 other kids. At the age of 12 Stefano moved to Florida where he kept racing, and next thing I know he was 18 years old and getting a professional mountain bike license. The following year (2003) his friend Vinny in Florida asked me if I wanted to race with his road team. Stefano thought why not and in his first criterium he lapped the field solo and took the top step on the podium. By the end of that year he received his category 1 upgrade and I knew road racing was where it was at for him. He races in Florida for another year, and the following year (2005) we signed by the TIAA Cref Pro Cycling Team and moved to Boulder, Colorado where he resides today. After spending a year with TIAA Cref he spent 2006 and 2007 with the Toyota United Pro Cycling.

Stefano is excited about what 2008 brings. After years of happily working as a support rider he will get a chance to make a mark for himself. His strong time trialing and climbing will make him a go to guy for all the stage races and when he pushes the pedals in anger during a criterium things are sure to happen. He will get the opportunity to help the team show what we are capable of doing by winning some bicycle races, and also give some guidance to the other up and coming riders on the team.