Ballerini is at theEthias Tour de Wallonie together with Alaphilippe and a great group of riders working for the second part of the season. Some of these big names, for various reasons, due to problems or schedules, have been left out of the Tour and are now incredibly motivated. The context is special. Yesterday the race was held on the streets of Liège, but there will be plenty of cobblestones throughout the week. The only problem, which came to light just yesterday, is a heat wave which is not at all usual in those parts.Just think that when the Tour stopped in Belgium, we put on our sweatshirts to go to dinner and read with dismay about the 40-degree temperatures that were hitting Italy.
«Instead he arrived here too – admits Ballero – we're talking about 35-36 degrees. So yesterday's stage was really tough, I didn't expect it to be that tough. Partly because of some of the climbs in Liège and partly because of the heat. I'm sorry we lost the leader's jersey (Alaphilippe, winner of the 1st stage, arrived at 8'28”, while today he had to stop due to testing positive for Covid, ed.). And I'm sorry that we have lost Dries Devenyns, who fell twice. The first time he hit his head and started again. Then he fell again and they took him to the hospital."
So we start again from here?
Exactly, after working well in Livigno. I can't say I'm satisfied with the first part of the season.I still focused on the classics, but between various ailments and Covid, I've always chased the condition without ever really finding itWhen things are like that, you rush things and everything gets complicated. These are experiences you carry with you, but it's also true that at certain times it was difficult to make the team, so maybe you come back not at your best. And all it takes is a blast of air to get sick.
Are you okay now?
It's all over now (snorts, ed.). The Giro went quite well, I had my chancesThen in Livigno I stopped. We were a good group, all those who didn't go to the Tour, from “Loulou” (Alaphilippe, ed.) to Evenepoel. And so the Tour We watched it on TV. Yesterday I was hoping Jakobsen would win, he can move well too. without Morkov. But Philipsen he had already shown that he was stronger.
Last year you were one of the top riders at the World Championships, but it ended with a crash and retirement. Have you spoken to Bennati yet?
We've talked, of course. I've always gotten along well with Benna, I did my first internship at Tinkoff with him.We have a great relationship, he's a good person, I often joke with him. We'll see how it goes this time with the national team. The European Championships are dull. The World Cup will be as tough as last yearI haven't seen the roads, I don't know if they're wide. But it's getting tough, I don't take Alaphilippe out of my favorites, so we'll see.
Yesterday in Paris, Bennati mentioned a few names…
We'll have to see how things are in September. Bettiol is actually going strong, but the World Cup is almost two months awayWe'll have to be good at being strong on those days.
At the Giro, Ballerini helped Cavendish. Their paths will part in 2023. How much blue at the last Giro: Colbrelli, Ballerini and Consonni
At the Giro, Ballerini helped Cavendish. Their paths will part in 2023. How much blue at the last Giro: Colbrelli, Ballerini and Consonni
How will you get there?
No Vuelta. After Wallonia, I'll do Burgos, then the European Championships, then a race in Belgium, Plouay, then another two weeks at altitude, Slovakia and then, if I'm in the squad, the world championship.
Bramati says he'd like to see you win these days. Is there a stage that's right for you?
The last one, which also has a few kilometers of cobblestones. But if it were to be another, it would be fine just the same. Having just come down from the height, I knew the first ones would be tough, but things will definitely get better now. And… one thing: I'd like to win, too…
