For some the Muur Classic Geraardsbergen it could be a race that says little. This is a Belgian classic centred on the repeated ascent of the Muro di Grammont, where the history of the Tour of FlandersMathieu won it last year. Van der Poel, who has always excelled in this type of race. The fact that Filippo won this year The fog, the Empoli native of Green Project Bardiani CSF Faizané it therefore has a particular meaning.
A meaning heightened by the fact that, while Magli was racing in Belgium, his girlfriend Gaia masetti was the absolute protagonist at the Future Tower. Joys shared through smartphones, looking at each other from a distance, uniting feelings before being able to meet againFor the Tuscan it was an unexpected victory, which came during a period of intense activity.
«This race wasn't even in my schedule. I had done the Tour of Denmark and finished quite well, with a top 10 and a good ranking., but then I had to take the place of a teammate and pack my bags in a hurry. I didn't mind going; I would have considered it as good training for the next race in Plouay, but things went differently."
On the other hand, it wasn't a very common race…
It was a circuit race, in the first 3 laps we faced the wall passing on the asphalt, in the last 3 we faithfully retraced the part faced in Flanders. It was an eventful race right from the start, I hadn't started aiming for any particular result., but soon the group split up and I found myself in front together with ColnaghiIt became a race of elimination until we found ourselves in front of me, the British Birchill and Dutch Schulting and at that point I played my cards.
What effect did cycling on those roads have on you?
I'd sat down in front of the TV many times to watch the Tour of Flanders, but when you actually get there, it's something different. No matter the level of the race, in Belgium every race has the atmosphere of the Classics. While I was cycling on the Grammont I remembered Bettiol's feat and I was thrilled., I felt like the protagonist.
When did you realize you could win?
There were about thirty of us left in front, but many teams had more men on the field. At 70 meters, there was a push and they found themselves with five men in front. When I realized it could be the decisive move, I made up my mind and set off alone in pursuit. The remaining group then began to catch up, but we were all a bit tired, and that was the deciding factor: I'm not that fast, but I understood that at that point personal skills didn't matter, but rather the energy I had left. On the last wall I felt cramps, but I didn't give up.
What did Gaia say when you spoke?
I called her as soon as I could, she didn't want to believe it. She was getting massages, she too had been going strong that day. Then we felt more calm in the evening, it was nice to share what we had experienced, when you have someone by your side everything tastes better.
Were you more surprised by your result or his?
Before we left we had the opportunity to we trained together and I noticed that it went particularly well, who had a brilliant leg. I knew he would do something important in France.
Which season has your victory shaped?
I was already quite satisfied for my first year among the pros. I had the opportunity to do the best races, I already knew that with a schedule like that I would have taken a lot of "whippings" because the level was very high, but I had taken my satisfactions. I had finished the Giro d'Italia, I had almost reached the podium at the Italian championship, certainly this victory gives everything a different flavour.
You mentioned the Giro: what effects did completing a three-week race have?
They say it changes your engine, and I've experienced it firsthand. The Giro isn't something you can improvise; you have to be ready at every level. Your body isn't used to such sustained effort, and mentally, you have to be able to withstand the toughest moments, which will surely come. But when you finish you realize that something has changed precisely in terms of engine capacity.
And now?
Now we move forward with renewed enthusiasm towards the next season, which will be very important. I already have a contract with Green Project for next year, so I can work with peace of mind, but It's not the team that puts pressure on me, I put enough pressure on myself already. because I don't want next year to be an ordinary year, I want to show that I deserve to race among the pros and that I can do even more.
