Starting from September 2025, a strategic initiative will bring together three key players with complementary and decisive roles: Boplan Sport, an international leader in the production of protection systems; Neri Sottoli, a Tuscan food company, with a longstanding connection to cycling, engaged in research and logistics supervision; and the Italian Cycling Federation – Tuscan Regional Committee (FCI Toscana), promoter of the use of protective equipment in competitions.
The Federation organizes over 300 cycling events each year across professional, amateur, and youth categories. Thanks to this collaboration, modern advanced protective equipment will be introduced in Tuscany to significantly raise safety standards at competitions.
Innovative solutions for cycling
Boplan Sport will supply its new generation protective barriers, designed to minimize the risk in the most critical areas of the routes:
- Start and finish zones,
- Tight bends and roundabouts,
- Trees and poles located along the race routes.
Joint research by Neri Sottoli and FCI Toscana has identified the most suitable solutions for Italian races.
“Safety is not a luxury, but a necessity; especially in cycling. This collaboration allows us to put our experience at the service of races, where it matters most.” – Boplan Sport
Neri Sottoli: storage, oversight and vision
For Neri Sottoli, this represents the first concrete innovation in the field of cycling safety, but the company is already working on further initiatives that will see the light of day starting in 2026.
The project is also taking shape thanks to the company’s commitment to storing the protective gear in its warehouses and providing supervision and operational support, working with the Federation to ensure the orderly and responsible management of safety equipment.
“For our company, which has historical ties to cycling, this project represents a mission of responsibility: to make a concrete contribution to the protection of athletes and the improvement of competition safety.” – Stefano Baronti, Director of Neri Sottoli
Major international events
Boplan solutions will be used in over 300 events per year, including five top-level international UCI professional races:
- GP Industria & Artigianato (UCI ProSeries – Men)
- Gran Premio città di Peccioli – Coppa Sabatini (UCI ProSeries – Men)
- Giro della Toscana – Memorial Alfredo Martini (UCI 1.1 – Men)
- Trofeo Oro in Euro – Women’s Bike Race (UCI 1.1 – Women)
- Premondiale Giro Toscana Internazionale Femminile – Memorial Michela Fanini (UCI 2.2 – Women)
In addition to these, the protective barriers will also be used in youth and amateur competitions, extending the benefits of safety to all levels of cycling in Tuscany.
“We are ready for an intense collaboration that will decisively raise the level of safety in races. Boplan Sport and Neri Sottoli bring valuable expertise and experience to cycling in Tuscany.” – Luca Menichetti, President of FCI Toscana
360° safety: sports and industry
The collaboration between Boplan Sport and Neri Sottoli is not limited to cycling. The two companies are also working together on the development and implementation of industrial protection systems, applied both inside and outside Neri Sottoli’s production facilities and warehouses.
For the Tuscan company, this represents an important opportunity to adopt Boplan’s advanced solutions in the field of industrial safety, reinforcing its commitment to remaining at the forefront of workplace safety. This approach demonstrates a 360° approach to safety, capable of uniting the worlds of sport and business.
A strategic step towards expansion
For Boplan Sport, the agreement represents the first official step into the Italian market, part of an international growth strategy that has already seen successful applications in Belgium, France, Poland, Germany, and the Netherlands.
About Boplan
Founded in 1999 in Wevelgem (Belgium), Boplan develops and manufactures high-quality plastic safety solutions for industrial environments and sporting events. Present in over 80 countries, with 280 employees, 10 sales offices, and a network of 50 distributors, Boplan is recognized worldwide for innovation, design, and sustainability. For more information: www.boplan.com/it
About Neri Sottoli
Neri Sottoli is a Tuscan food company with a long history of involvement in cycling, with a long tradition of sponsorship and support for competitions. Despite the untimely death of Giuliano Baronti, a leading figure in the world of cycling, the company has chosen to keep this legacy alive by investing in projects of high technical and human value.
With this initiative, Neri Sottoli confirms its desire to remain a leading player in cycling, bringing innovation and high-level solutions for the safety of athletes and competitions. At the same time, it strengthens its position as a company attentive to safety in the workplace, thanks to its collaboration with Boplan in the industrial sector as well.
