The Sibiu Tour, the race that last year saw the duel between Aru and Aleotti (the Emilian is competing to defend his 2021 victory), will then be time to unplug and reflect. Filippo Fiorelli went to Romania also to try to unlock the season, which has seen him among the top ten many times so far and only rarely, like a curse, in the running. However, the action at the Italian championships in the company of Baroncini has turned on a different light and given meaning to the words by Giovanni Visconti, who on the very eve of the tricolour had suggested to him to break away from the sprinter's mentality and dare more.
«Giovanni always told me – confirms Fiorelli from the hotel in Sibiu, a city in Transylvania – to change my way of racing. I can't beat the sprinters, so the idea of beating them is there.. Like in Italian. I knew that the ones in front were no longer catchable and I took the opportunity to shine. Maybe throw a signal to the national team manager and see what would come out."
The Sibiu Tour started yesterday from the medieval city of the same name in Transylvania (photo Get your guide) In 2021 the Romanian race saw Aleotti win over Aru
The Sibiu Tour started yesterday from the medieval city of the same name in Transylvania (photo Get your guide) In 2021 the Romanian race saw Aleotti win over Aru
Here, precisely, the sprinters: you have never been one…
And I don't even consider myself one. It's just that we don't have him in the team, the sports directors know that I'm fast, that I ride the bike well and that I throw myself into it, so I often end up sprintingAs an amateur, I never did group races. I've always achieved results differently.
Going on the run, what Visconti called "tired escapes"...
I try, I don't always have to wait. The problem is that, knowing I'm fast, the temptation to stay in the group is actually there and I don't moveAt the Italian championships he attacked Zana and took the right escapeIf other riders had entered, I would have had to go too.
Does not winning make you nervous?
Last year I won straight away (the Porec Trophy, on March 7th, ed.), but in the meantime I'm a year older and I haven't raised my arms anymore, when perhaps I would have expected to do so. In my defense, the first part of the season was unfortunate, between Covid and other health issues. When I recovered, I made several placings, like the one in Bagheria at the Giro di Sicilia. It would have been the perfect day, but it turned out to be a third place.
Will there be opportunities at the Sibiu Tour?
Yesterday was the 2,3-kilometer prologue. Today's stage features a climb at the start: if they manage not to lose too much, a tight sprint could ensue. Tomorrow's uphill finish. Tuesday features two semi-stages. A time trial in the morning and a short stage in the afternoon that could end in a sprint. So if that's okay, I'm here today and Tuesday.
And then what?
And then I'll cut off, I already have 56 days of running which are not few. Partly because it's time to recover to set up the rest of the season and partly because there are no other races and the team stops.
What will it mean to prepare for the rest of the season?
I'll go to Sicily for a few days of vacation, then at high altitude to resume preparationI don't know where yet. In the second half, there are races where I've always done well, especially the Tour du Limousin.
You mentioned Bennati…
There are races like the Europeans that suit fast riders like me (the pro race will take place in Monaco on August 21st on a flat course, ed.). From his statements, I can think that he noticed my action at the Italian championships and I admit that the idea of wearing the blue jersey for once really intrigues me. Daniele knows that I would be ready, but of course It's up to me to show that I'm up to it. For this reason, I will listen to Visconti and the holidays will last just the right amount of time. There's a lot of work to do.
