Awaremess

Milan's messenger community is very white, dominated by cis men, and heterosexual. For a long time it had a macho and competitive atmosphere, which left little room for WTNB* members.

The deeply rooted drinking culture often reinforced these mechanisms of exclusion, making it difficult for those who didn't identify with that social model to participate.

In recent years, however, thanks also to contact with other messenger communities abroad, the entry of a few more WTNB* members into the community, and the arrival of a new generation of bike messengers, a growing awareness of inclusivity has developed. This has led to a tangible change: there have been notable improvements in people's attitudes and a concrete commitment to making the environment more welcoming for everyone.

We are looking forward to welcome you in the streets of Milan for the World Championships 2026.

Since the concept of Awareness entered the messenger world, most of the work has been done by WTNB* and/or queer people. This work is both practical and physical (e.g., the number of Awaremess volunteers at parties) and inventive (formulating concepts, explaining them, finding a way to make them easily accessible to everyone). Consequently, the burden of informing people, teaching them how to respect others, and suggesting habits and ideas to make everyone feel comfortable has fallen (as almost always happens) on the shoulders of people who are often already marginalized and subject to discrimination.

Be aware of your privileges and make an extra effort to educate yourself and question the way you occupy space.

Useful resources

• StarBMA, the website with all the guidelines regarding Open/WTNB* categories and why it's important to have them
• Zine distributed at SUICMC 2023 regarding the change of race categories that had been decided on transphobic bases

Some guidelines

• Moderation is an individual and common responsibility, let's try to correct each other and self-moderate with care and patience in the possible different situations.
• Ask and respect pronouns. Don't assume them.
• Avoid assumptions about other people's experiences. Especially regarding gender, race, sexuality, or (physical and mental) health.
• Don't insult people.
• Don't use threatening tones.
• Keep in mind inequalities, privileges and power asymmetries.
• Don't dominate the conversation. Be aware of the space that you occupy (physically and verbally). Don't talk over other people in a discussion. Give to everyone the time and space to express themselves.
• Ask for consent.
• No racism, omolesbobitransphobia, transmisoginy, sexism, abilism, fatphobia, ageism, and classism.

Some helpful questions to reflect on

• How do I react when someone with less privilege expresses criticism or discomfort about something I’ve said or done?
• How often do I interrupt or speak over marginalized people during interactions?
• Do I actively educate myself on how to listen better to people with less privilege, or do I expect them to do that work for me?
• If I hear a friend misgendering someone, consciously or unconsciously, am I able to correct them, even if it seems awkward to interrupt the conversation?
• Am I more comfortable following advice or trusting people similar to me?
• Do I pay more social attention (eye contact, affirmation, deference) to certain people based on their appearance or perceived status?
• Do I regularly ask if all members of a group feel included, or do I prioritize people who are more like me?
• Am I able to recognize when something is wrong (e.g., if someone is interrupted more often or if someone talks too much) and intervene gently in the moment?
• Do I include quieter or less “typical” voices in discussions, or do I engage mostly with people I already know or who seem similar to me?
• If someone shares a personal story of discrimination, do I focus on their experience, or do I change the subject, minimize, or make it about me?
• If someone is new or alone, do I make an effort to interact and introduce them to others to help them feel included?
• Am I aware of how internal jokes or group dynamics might exclude new or marginalized people?

General Info

Food

Our kitchen team will take care of you throughout the entire event, providing vegan breakfasts included in the registration fee. Lunch and dinner will not be provided, but don’t worry! Over the weekend, breakfast will turn into an extended brunch, allowing you to enjoy a more relaxed and filling start to the day. In addition, the locations map features a list of recommended spots where you can eat well at great prices.

Accomodation

Housing and separate WTNB Housing close to the events location will be provided for the whole duration of the event. Remember to register to let us know how to organize the space at best!

What to bring

• Mattress and sleeping bag
• Plate and cutlery
• Lights for your bike
• Helmet
• Bag
• Lock

Locations Map

Check out all the official event locations and discover some local tips for good food and nice spots around town.

Pre & Post Events

Thinking about extending your mess-vacation before or after the World Championships? We’ve got you covered — here’s all the information you need.

Pre-ECMC

From 8th to 10th may Warsaw will host the very first event of the season. There will also be a groupride to Berlin between 11th and the 14th.

More info here

ECMC

The 30th edition of the European Cycle Messenger Championships will take place in Berlin, Germany, from the 14th to the 18th of may.

More info here

SUICMC

This year the Swiss Championships will do things a bit differently: instead of taking place in a single city, they’ll be a 10-day traveling journey across several cities in Switzerland, with events happening all along the way. Acting as a bridge between European and World Championships, the groupride will reach Milan on May 27th.

More info here

Post-CMWC

On Monday, June 1st, a group ride will roll out from Milan and head to the sea in Genoa over three days. Once there, the local community will host the official post-event until Friday, June 5th.

More info here

Spiritual Bombing

On the weekend of June 6th–7th, the 4th edition of Spiritual Bombing will go down in the mountains above Genoa. It’s a fixed-gear-only mountain race, with a party and campout up in the hills. Not racing? No worries, there’ll also be a group ride and a hike.

More info here