It also takes a pinch of irony to tell this story that seems like a soap opera with a perfect title: "Manuela", some will remember, was a sappy Italian-Argentine soap opera glimpsed on Rete4 in the early 90s. It didn't last long, overwhelmed by the infinite success of "Beautiful".

But let's not digress on Ridge Forrester's monumental jaw and Brooke on duty. Let's talk about "our" Manuela, the protagonist of a story full of twists and turns. It all happens suddenly, on June 18th.

With a cold official statement, Mitchelton-Scott announces the termination of the relationship with the NGO Manuela Fundación, which should have taken its place this season. No more name changes, no more jersey changes, colors and sponsors: everything canceled. Why?

We at Fantacycling were already ready to change the team uniforms on the App. Instead, nothing. Why?

Mitchelton-Scott boss Gerry Ryan confirmed the name of the sponsor Manuela Fundación, but stressed that the team remained his property and the Australian license. The Mitchelton number one also added that the terms of the partnership had been brought forward too quickly, with many details still to be defined.

Stefano Garzelli had somehow replied to Gerry Ryan's words. According to rumours, Garzelli would have had (or will still have if the contracts are deemed valid) the role of director of the sports area of the new team.

The winner of the 2000 Giro d'Italia had revealed to the Spanish newspaper "Marca", some details of the agreement: "Contract signed last June 5, I took care of it personally: it is a sponsorship that is valid for 2020 and saves Mitchelton from a delicate situation. Then in 2021 the license will become Spanish with Francisco Huertas as president. In 2020 it will remain Australian".

Instead, the Mitchelton-Scott press release abruptly ended everything: “We felt a strong initial bond with Francisco Huertas, the Manuela

Fundación and their noble goals. But negotiations have evolved since the first announcement and we have decided that the partnership will not continue. We wish Francisco Huertas and Manuela Fundación all the best for the future”.

A future no longer together, then, but what will happen now? Stefano Garzelli himself tried to clarify by intervening on Lello Ferrara's Instagram live: "We were surprised by the backtracking of Gerry Ryan and Team Mitchelton Scott, because we acted in an absolutely transparent way: sponsorship with an Australian license in 2020; Spanish license and ownership in 2021. Everything was and still is ready for a meeting on Monday in Granada. The negotiation was carried forward not by Ryan but by Shayne Bannan, manager of Mitchelton. The contract remains valid: all the details, figures and durations are there".

Many points still to be clarified, therefore. Waiting to understand if there will be another chapter in the story, hoping that it does not end like that soap opera that no one, or almost no one, remembers