Although he wasn't particularly impressive in the race, he slowly started to show up again yesterday. He was in Ganna's group, fighting for a good finish. We're talking about Matej Mohoric, the big absentee this part of the season. In the seven races before Flanders, he had collected three retirements, one withdrawal, and two finishes outside of 100th place: certainly not a performance worthy of Mohoric. In Oudenaarde, however, something changed.
But why? What happened to the very talented and always aggressive athlete of the Bahrain-Victorious? It was the Slovenian himself who told us this, caught during the Flanders tournament, in the middle of the Northern Italian countryside. As always, Mohoric was clear and spoke openly.
So Matej, what's going on?
It happens that I caught a virus during the opening weekend in early March (Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne, ed.) And things got complicated from then on. I seemed to be getting better, but just before the Strade Bianche I had another problem... even worse than the first. Now, however, I'm recovering.
What virus did you have?
There were two to be precise: the first was a simple bacterial ear infection, a winter ailment I would say. The virus, however, forced me to take antibiotics. The second one was much stronger, a gastrointestinal virus I contracted from something unclean I must have ingested. It was really annoying and long.
Has this situation led you to change anything in your calendar?
In the end, I did my runs, partly because even on opening weekend it didn't seem impossible or that big. But the second time... During the Strade Bianche days, I was out of breath. A dead man in bed! So much so that I didn't start in Siena. I was hoping to feel better in Sanremo, but as I was saying, it was tougher than expected.
You riders today are like Formula 1 cars, and when you're sick, you risk carrying the condition with you for a long time. Have you and your staff ever considered retiring?
Stopping for these races isn't easy, though. It meant missing out on my seasonal goals. My next goal is TourMaybe I was wrong, maybe I was right… But these are my races, I live for these races. Not doing them would have been a major setback for the entire season. However, as I repeat, I feel better now.
What does "I feel better" mean, Matej? Is it the numbers on the computer or is there something else?
No, no… I feel it, I feel it in my body: when I'm under stress, when I'm recovering, when I'm on the bike. We're always at the limit, when you're very thin, when you're always stretched thin, you're also more vulnerable. But at the same time you feel how your body reacts when you do well.
Now what's your plan?
I'll do the Roubaix and then I think the Amstel too, but we'll see...
Who do you see as good for these races?
pogacar e Van der Poel they are stronger, But then again, in cycling there are a thousand variables... and that's the beauty of it, right? You never know how things will really go.
Will they also be the favourites for Roubaix?
Yes, maybe there will be someone more, but they remain the strongest of the moment. Then luck counts a little more there too.
We know about your meticulousness, Matej: how did you work in terms of materials?
We've done a lot of work this winter. We even did a fair bit of site inspection for the opening weekend. We're all set with the materials. Now we hope to gather more. We at Bahrain Victorious believe in ourselves, we know we can get where we deserve to be.
There were rumors that the cobblestones in Flanders and Roubaix were rougher than usual. Is this true for you?
No, no… The stones are always the same, maybe whoever said that should have deflated the tires!
How do you spend your days in this Northern countryside?
We are lucky. Compared to other teams, For a few years we have been renting a large house in the countryside And instead of each of us staying in our rooms, we have a large common room where we hang out. We watch movies, discuss other races together, play cards... It's really nice this way!
