The Broker and the Champion

Ivan Basso, rider in professional cycling team Tinkoff-Saxo and two-time Giro d’Italia champion, has co-authored a new book about the mental and psychological challenges facing both traders and top sport athletes with the Head of Saxo Bank’s Milan office, Gian Paolo Bazzani.

The new book called «The Broker and the Champion» features an interview between Gian Paolo Bazzani, and Ivan Basso, who re-joined Tinkoff-Saxo ahead of the 2015 season, discussing the parallels between trading and professional sport. The new book is currently available in limited edition on Saxo Bank Italy’s homepage.

Gian Paolo Bazzani, who joined the online and investment specialist in 2010, said: «In the new book, we used Basso’s deep experience and ability to make split-second decisions to outline the similarities between online trading and high-performance athletes. Athletes like Basso embody the ethos of seizing opportunities.

«My work with Basso clearly shows that White Collar and Colored Lycra have much more in common than one would presume. Buying or selling a currency is not based on snap decision-making but from a deep knowledge of the markets, well-prepared strategies and the ability to adapt to new scenarios. A similar set of skills and attributes are needed in professional cyclists when facing tests such asMilan-San Remo or the Giro d’Italia. I think this is also the reason we have seen increasing interest in cycling from the financial industry in recent years.» Bazzani said.

This view is supported by a recent Saxo Bank survey of financial services workers living in London which found that cycling is on track to become financial services’ favourite sport. One in four of total respondents to the survey (24%) agree that the bike has replaced other status symbols in the City such as the fast car or the motorbike. The main topics covered in the new book are:

• how to manage emotions under pressure
• how to build self confidence
• the perseverance «above all»
• the importance of planning and execution
• how to manage loss or defeat

The new book coincides with the start of Giro d’Italia and the release of a new video by Saxo Bank showing how Basso built up his reputation as one of the world’s top mountain riders. The video also covers his fierce competitiveness and ability to look at challenges from all angles helping to push the whole Tinkoff-Saxo team forward.