Dried Almeida for not having beaten Ulysses, Almeida convinced that he will do a good time trial, Almeida who continues to amaze. Those who don't seem too surprised are Mirko Rossato, now technician of the Bardiani-Csf, that the young Portuguese signed him in his first year as an under-23 at Trevigiani and watched him grow kilometer after kilometer. And he smiles when we tell him that the pink jersey wearer admitted in the press conference that he remembered the climbs, the descents, and all the curves.
Cyclists never forget the roads…
He spent a year with us in PozzonovoBut the other day we met at the hotel and he asked me what the final climbs were, to see if I remembered them. They didn't expect them to be so tough, given what they are? Our Tonelli also had a good stage. We have the obligation to always try.
A year in Pozzonovo in the same old house?
The one where over the years Finetto and Malori have been and with him the various Tivanis and also Ravanelli, who is here at the Giro. He stayed here for a long time, two or three months at a time.He trained and studied in the meantime, he attended university in Portugal. Just think that we still have a whatsapp group with the guys from back then and he is one of those who writes regularly.
A good guy, then?
Very much so. A humble guy, but I advised him the other day not to let it get to his head. He knows he's strong, but he doesn't fly high. He has a beautiful family of balanced and normal people behind him.Compared to other phenomenal young riders on his team, he's a different beast. I saw Sagan at the hotel the other day. He laughs and waves to everyone. That's how you see a champion.
Is it really that strong?
In our first year, we went to the Tour of Ukraine. He broke away alone with 30 kilometers to go in the toughest stage, and they caught him with two kilometers to go. In the group, jokingly, they asked us if by any chance it was CancellaraThen he won a stage and also won one at the Tour of Mersin, in Türkiye. And that one on the Strade Bianche. to Tuscany Cycling Lands which was done in April.
It's good at time trials.
Today gives a minute to all those in the rankingsI told Nibali that they're underestimating him. He's stronger in time trials than him, Fuglsang, and Majka. I don't know Kelderman. And if he drops off in the third week, it'll be because he's never ridden a major Giro.
Why didn't he stay with you?
Why Axel Merckx took it, who had been a professional that year, while we remained continental. However, he continued to alternate between pro and under-23 races, so much so that in 2018 he finished second behind Vlasov at the U23 Giro d'Italia and first among the young riders.
From Almeida to Mazzucco, how is the Giro della Bardiani going?
By running away and protecting our kids, like Mazzucco and Zana. They're here to gain experience. And together we expect Carboni to start making his presence felt. While Fiorelli is a good fighter, with malice and gritHe's hungry and has a delicate family situation. A boy who will go far.
Why didn't you bring Rivera, who was just signed from Androni?
This was poorly explained. He and Gabburo will be with us starting next year, and it's a shame they didn't bring them to the Giro. But every team has its own strategies.
