The news took him quite by surprise. Diego Ulissi is the active cyclist with the greatest consistency of success over the years: the Tuscan has won at least one race for 14 seasons. Behind him in this special ranking, two sprint champions like the Norwegian Kristoff (13) and the French Give me (12). A title of merit not to be underestimated for the rider of the UAE Team Emirates, who has recently resumed training to present himself already in top form for the first pre-season retreat.
Ulissi emphasizes the role of his "contenders" to the record: «I knew last year that I and History we shared this little privilege, but then I honestly didn't think about it anymore. It's nice, especially since I'm ahead of two sprint champions who undoubtedly have more chances to win than me. Given my characteristics, I always have to create my own successes and that's never easy."
What does this record represent?
I think it's the best demonstration of my consistency in performance, which is no easy feat over 14 years, during which cycling has changed a lot. It's even more true considering that I'm a climber-router, who manages to win when the race unfolds a certain way. If you make a selection, there are only a few left to fight for victory. Furthermore, I am not a single captain, I often have to work for others too and this means that you have to take advantage of the opportunities that the season presents you.
Let's try to retrace some of the stages of this record, starting naturally with the first victory: the Gran Premio Industria e Commercio in Prato in 2010.
The first victory is certainly not to be forgotten, in my mind it's as if the race was run yesterday. Also because in the end there were only three of us left to play for the victory and I beat a man who marked the first part of my career: Michele boots. At the end of the season we became teammates and a deep feeling was immediately established between us, which soon spread from everyday life to racing.In fact, he wanted me with him at the Giro despite my young age and I repaid him by winning the Giro for the first time.
That victory, in the Tirano stage, came about due to Giovanni's demotion ViscontiDoes that success taste different because of this?
No, why should it? First of all, I was good at being there, fighting for the win, on a stage where it was practically certain that the breakaway would reach the finish line. It was the longest stage of that Giro and the big names were thinking about the general classification, they wanted to catch their breath for a day in view of the decisive ones. The selection was continuous, there remained me, Visconti and Lastras, that is I was with two riders who were supposedly faster. Giovanni miscalculated the sprint, that's all...
It was the first but not the only one…
In total I brought home 8 of them, a nice haul.I particularly remember those of 2014, when I won in Viggiano beating a fairly large group with Evans who reached me at 1” and repeated it three days later in Montecopiolo by overtaking the Croatian Kiserlovski in a two-man sprint. Those were real battles, let's say that in the ideal ranking of my victories, those are both quite high.
You haven't been as lucky in the other Grand Tours.
I haven't had many opportunities, considering that I only raced the Vuelta in 2013 and the Tour in 2017. Curiously, however, both times I came within a whisker of winning the stage. In Spain I was second in the Alto de Naranco stage, but that day there was a Joaquim Rodriguez truly indomitable, who won by 11". In France I had guessed the winning breakaway, but Bauke was good Mollema to anticipate everyone. It was a missed opportunity. Looking back, I don't have any major regrets in my career, but that time I was a little sad...
Few people pay attention to it, yet the races that serve as a general test for the Olympics always have a particular value and you won the one in Tokyo in 2019. Yet you didn't go to the Games...
I know, but I can't say anything negative about the choices Cassani madeLet's start from 2019, from that beautiful trip, where we ran really well, so much so that I won by beating Formolo. The following year was supposed to be the Olympic year, it is clear that I had a lot of hopes and ambitions for the call-up, But it was the year of Covid, with everything upended. For me, it was a truly exceptional year, with five victories, including the Tour of Luxembourg classification, and two more stages at the Giro. At the end of the season I was number 8 in the UCI ranking.
And then what?
POI In the winter they discovered I had myocarditis and I was forced to stop for a long time. and when I started again, I found my form very late. Cassani was honest with me, he couldn't wait for me. After all, we've always had an excellent relationship, and it's no coincidence that I was able to compete in 5 world championships.
In total, you've won 46 races, spread across 14 years of activity. How much has cycling changed since then?
A lot, and in some ways, adding new "gems" is increasingly difficult. First, because while the schedule has swelled, the teams are also larger and richer internally. There aren't that many days of competition, and among them there are few opportunities to aim for a full result. You have to be good at being ready to seize the opportunity. Looking back, I'd say I was able to think things through well.
Now you have another season ahead of you, will you try to extend the series?
If the opportunity arises, I hope to be there, we work towards that but it's certainly not a fixed idea. I'm interested in honoring the commitment I have with my team, I'm now approaching 35 years old and I want to prove that I'm still competitive., useful to the team both as a support and as a leader when it's my turn. I'll try, that's for sure...
