After five seasons Vincenzo Nibali back toAstana and with him the historic masseur, Michael Pallini. Michele and Vincenzo have built a career together step by step and very few, indeed perhaps no one, know the Shark like the Tuscan masseur.
Michele, are you going home?
Yup, let's say we're going back homeThe good thing is that it reduces the time it takes to adapt to a new team. There are dynamics that take six months to adapt to, but for me, who am a little older, it takes a year! But in Astana, there's an atmosphere we already know.
And that's no small thing...
It's a very Italian team, and I stress this a lot. The language barrier, the biggest one, is easily overcome; you feel at home precisely because of the cultural aspect of the way of doing things, the food, everything.
We were saying, five years have passed and Vincenzo is almost 37: how old is he? How young is he? How much can he give?
He can still give quite a bit physically. We need to understand how much he can give mentally, how much he can hold on. Being a predestined player, many times when you no longer get the results you want, the ground under your feet disappears and consequently, the desire, motivation, and everything else disappears. If there were to be a performance issue, in my opinion, it would depend on how involved Vincenzo feels in the project.
In theory, Michele, this shouldn't be a problem, given that Martinelli and Nibali had been sniffing each other out since the Giro. In short, they wanted each other...
I believe in luck up to a certain point. If you fall six or seven times, something's wrong, it's not bad luck. If Martino has won so many Grand Tours, there must be a reason, and I think it's because he knows how to involve the whole team and pays attention to every detail. This way, he manages to get 110% from everyone. So I don't think he took Vincenzo on without a plan.
However, neither Martino nor Vinokourov, and perhaps even Nibali himself, believe he can still win the Giro…
And I agree with them: I don't think he's competitive enough to win a major Giro. If he were to end up on the podium, no one would be impressed. Vincenzo expects to be competitive, and whether he'll be competitive in the stages or for a top ten or top five finish remains to be seen. It will depend on how he feels during the race.
Also, since Astana signed Lopez, we imagine he'll be the team captain for the Grand Tours. How will Vincenzo and Miguel coexist?
The two of them already know each other. They know their respective goals, and in my opinion, they can coexist peacefully. Vincenzo can give Lopez the peace of mind he was missing. His presence can help him experience the race stress-free. Knowing that a very strong rider can lend you a hand in a race makes you feel at ease; you're not worried about your position in the group, and maybe you're less likely to crash because you're more relaxed. It's a bit like what happened between Michele (Scarponi, ed.) and Vincenzo. You know the strongest rider is on your side.
Over the years that you've been treating him, how much has Vincenzo's muscles changed?
Fundamentally, he hasn't changed, but last year he was stubborn about the fact that he didn't have much explosive power, that he wasn't responding well to sprints. So, to start the season stronger, he worked out much more in the gym. And he put on muscle mass. You could even see the volume in his legs.
You don't seem to agree with this choice very much, is it a good or a bad thing?
It depends on the results. If they arrive, it's good. If they don't, it's bad. We often tend to imitate others, but what's good for others doesn't necessarily mean that everyone is good for everyone. Last year he wanted to do what he wanted, and as you know, he left. Paul Slongo.
You mentioned earlier that Astana has a very familiar, very Italian atmosphere. You'll also find some new coaches and personalities there. Think of Erica Lombardi, a dietitian who many riders speak highly of, and Maurizio Mazzoleni. Will these new figures also be a source of motivation for you and Nibali?
Erica is considered good because she doesn't impose anything but rather accommodates the needs of the riders. If she's facing athletes who are ready to give 120% and are willing to make enormous sacrifices, she behaves in a certain way. If, however, she's facing an established champion with his habits, she's more flexible. Ineos Nutrition is a must. There's a standard protocol for everyone: for some, it works well and they go really fast, while for others, it doesn't work and they get less results.
And what about Mazzoleni, the trainer?
Maurizio grew up with Paolo and knows what Vincenzo needs. We've spoken with him and everyone else, who already know their general direction for this season. For the actual programs, we'll wait for the final presentations of all the races. And especially with Martino, we'll draw up a definitive plan.
Does the start of this new adventure remind you of any previous seasons? Do you have a sense of déjà vu?
Every situation, every year is new and there are different protagonists. Martinelli certainly tried to recreate a peaceful environment for Nibali and the entire team, and this is also why he wanted to return to Montecatini. Maybe it was also a bit of superstition. I saw enthusiasm; one evening the kids all went out together, and when you're more relaxed, you work better.
