Giulio Pellizzari's mood is sparkling, as if he were a bottle of sparkling wine that can't wait to uncork the cork and release the full force of its bubbles. The player from the Marche region is returning from his first retreat with the Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe with eyes that still shine (in the opening he is with his mentor Massimiliano Gentili). But the emotion has almost faded away leaving room for the deep thoughts of a boy ready to grow up.
«I have a little cold – he says while he is at the airport ready to leave for Venice, from there he will then return to Dressing room in the car – these days haven't been great weather-wise. It rained and it was cold too, we practically never wore shorts.We spent ten days in Palma de Mallorca training and team building. It was fantastic, I had a lot of fun and I got to grips with the new reality. Everything has been expanded; what was once for one is now for ten."
As if he were at home
By now the emotion of the moment has melted away, Pellizzari he became familiar with his new classmates and his friendliness broke down all barriersHe's one of the youngest players on the team, and the others see him and love him. Also because the boy is growing at a rapid pace.
“I trained with the people I always saw on television,” he says, “since I was in the climbing group. There were the various Roglic, Hindley, Martinez e VlasovWe laugh and joke anyway, they're normal people. Compared to Bardiani, there is another way of having fun, more adult.Here at Red Bull, all the riders have children. At Reverberi, we were a group of eighteen-year-olds who were always laughing. This is also part of growth».
What days were they?
Don't worry. The group of climbers starts running quite late. I will be the first to start at the end of January with three races right in Mallorca. I honestly can't wait to race even if we will be a mixed group, half from the WT and half from the I have to team up. The sports director will be Caesar Benedetti, which I know very well, so it will be a slightly softer start.
You're the youngest in the group, what did your classmates tell you?
Roglic spoke to me a bit when he found out I would be among the reserves for the Giro d'Italia. He told me not to worry that I have a long career ahead of me and to take things slowly.At my age, he hadn't even ridden a bike yet.
Do you mind being a reserve at the Giro?
On the one hand, I'm certainly sorry, but it's still the team's choice and I respect it. Everyone has their own agenda. I spoke with Gasparotto and he told me that doing the Giro with Roglic would be a risk because there is a lot of attention and pressure around the team. For a twenty-year-old boy it may not be easy to be a team player in a situation like this.On the other hand, I was included in the Vuelta team.
Are you happy about this opportunity?
Yes, because I will try something different. Furthermore, the team chose this Grand Tour for two reasons: the first to have less pressureThe second, however, is because I could have more freedom. Racing with Roglic means working 100 percent for him. It's a guarantee: wherever he goes, he does well and wins.
Then you also have nine months to settle in and understand.
I will make a very interesting schedule and we will have the opportunity to understand how I react to the various commitments. By September I expect to have learned how to work with the team. and learn every detail.
What's your schedule?
After Mallorca I will go to UAE Tour and then at high altitude in March to prepare for Catalunya which I will race with RoglicI will still be in Spain in the Basque Country and I will also go to Romandie. I will stop again for another training camp and will do the Tour of Switzerland, Burgos and VueltaIt's a beautiful calendar.
Are you charged?
I can't wait to put on the uniform for the first time, after three years change is beautiful and stimulatingA few days ago, they sent me a 25-kilo package full of clothes. I opened it right away—a wonderful Christmas present.
How do you feel among the greats?
More than fine, I feel like I can handle it. Initially I was sorry about the idea of racing little in Italy, it will be for next yearMaybe I'll do the end-of-season races, but I'm not sure yet.
Other riders, such as PiganzoliThey stayed in a professional team for another year to race the Giro as protagonists, and once they've made this step, they'll be ready for the WorldTour. Do you feel ready yet?
I think that when I grow up I want to be a winning rider. To do this, this was the right step to take.Trying to be a winning athlete and conquer a Grand Tour also means taking a step like this. I'm sure that if I go strong I will have my chances and I think I'm in the right team.Here they can give me the right support, if they focus on a rider they do it 100 percent.
