"Today the true domestique, that is, Panizza for De Vlaeminck, Bernaudeau for Hinault or Vanotti for Nibali, no longer exists. Or if he exists, he is only seen in certain moments during the race." Even though what we are about to offer you is an article about the figure of the domestique, we could not avoid this premise made by Giuseppe Martinelli, one of the sports directors consulted for this “Oscar of the gregarious” precisely.
The premise of “Martino” is important because it also tells us a lot about the reasons for the judgments on this or that teammate. The factor of pulling, of taking air in the face, remains central today. While the part beyond the race fades away, at least from the outside. That is, the confident domestique, the domestique roommate. The discussion today is much more technical.
With the three major Tours behind him and other important races in the bag, Let's try to understand who the most outstanding team members were during the season. And why they stood out.
A word from Gasparotto
«It's a broad topic and not easy to choose – he says Enrico Gasparotto, sporting director in force at Red Bull-Bora It's difficult to judge and establish who was the best domestique of the year. It's also difficult to remember some of the events from March, for example. Or you don't know the internal dynamics of the various teams, the roles and tasks assigned to the riders. And then we talk about domestiques: but there are teams that have hired Adam Yates to be a domestique. We ourselves at Red Bull, we have Vlasov and Hindley who would be captains elsewhere. We are now moving in the direction of super teams, in which very important riders are made available to the 4-5 strongest athletes in the world.
«And this applies not only to the climb. I also think of some rouleurs who are strong in the Northern and cobblestone classics: Van Aert, Van Hooydonck until last year, or Politt: very strong people who give a lot even in the grand Tours."
And with Politt Gasparotto opens up to a first batch of names. The German of the UAE Emirates it's quite popular.
«I had Nils – continues Gasparotto – until last year and I know his potential. He is one of those very important athletes serving very high profiles. Besides him, I think Domen Novak has stood out this season. I know this guy well, as we raced together at Bahrain. He already had enormous potential back then and has taken a further step. In Liège he did an exceptional job for Pogacar and he did very well at the GP as well. Tour of Italy. Another one who did well is Cattaneo."
Being in Red Bull-Bora and given his excellent season, we would have thought that Gasparotto would name John Aleotti, now stable in the teams that count.
«Certainly he is there too – concludes Gasparotto – I didn't mention him before because I take the starting point as Tour due to the stress of the race and the fundamental importance that the domestique plays in that race and Giovanni was not there at the Tour. But without a doubt Giovanni is to be called into question. All Return He worked when he wasn't even on TV yet. He worked at the Giro and was consistently in the top 15, 20 at most: this means he's now reached a solid base. I see him very well in the future as a domestique for a major captain. It's a job he does naturally, and then there's a very important aspect: he has earned the trust of the leaders. Because you can go as fast as you want, but if the captain doesn't trust you, it's of little use.
«If a rider like that, given the tough World Championship that looms and the names that will compete for it - Roglic, Pogacar, Remco... - were not called up, I would be quite surprised».
It's Bramati's turn
After Gasparotto we listen to the opinion of David Bramati, sports director of the Soudal-Quick StepThe Lombard coach also emphasizes that the topic is broad, that the choice to be made is not easy, and adds: "The season is not over yet!"
«Who is the best domestique of the year? If I look in my house, but not only, I say Mattia Cattaneo. Especially after the medal in the European time trial, he comes to mind. He did great things at the Vuelta. We saw when he stopped to wait for Landa. That wasn't an easy decision, even for the team driver. For his part, it shows his devotion to the team and the work he's doing, despite being in great condition."
Cattaneo had already been appointed by Gasparotto, and it couldn't have been otherwise. Mattia has objectively been a great interpreter of this role. And not just this season.
«Also Novak of the UAE Emirates He seemed very good in this role to me, at least in the races I followed and also listening to the boys' opinions. My athletes tell me he does incredible numbers, that he pushes incredibly hard and for many kilometers. Novak does a great job even when he's far from the finish line.
«Then again from what I saw during the race, I have to say that it struck me Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier of Lid-Trek. At the Giro I saw him pull uphill, on the flats in Milan, and break away. A truly great athlete."
Finally Martinelli
We close with the most experienced of the directors called into question, Joseph Martinelli, technician ofAstana-QazaqstanHe also reiterates the difficulty of identifying a single name. Digging into the recent past of his athletes, Martino mentions Kangert and Scarponi. But then one also wonders whether an athlete like Van Aert, often at the service of the team, can be considered a domestique or not.
Marc Soler is a formidable domestique, but when does he really manage to do it? He's got a mind, that guy... Cattaneo is very good. But if I have to choose this year's domestique I say Rafal Mayka. I'm also thinking about last year's Tour and, obviously, the last Giro. It was crucial. He was one of the few, if not the only one, who should have and could have stayed close to Pogačar, and he did it to the best of his ability. Adam Yates and Almeida also made themselves available to Pogačar, but Majka is destined for that role. He's a true domestique: he pushes uphill and drops away. Those domestiques probably don't exist anymore."
And on this figure, Martinelli opens a parenthesis: «When my son Davide was in Quick Step he told me to De Clerq, now at Lidl-Trek. A fearsome rider, capable of sprinting from the third kilometer of the race to 40, 30 minutes down… Even in the Northern races. And in the meantime, he might even go to the back to fetch water. A force of nature. But for most, De Clerq is little known and perhaps even brings in few points. And few teams can afford that. But it's fundamental for the team. Today, with all the extra feed we have, the guys aren't even that good at fetching water from the team car."
