Julius Ciccone is ready to face his last block of races of 2023. The Abruzzese will be on stage tomorrow at the Giro dell'Emilia, then Tre Valli Varesine and Tour of Lombardy. In reality, his program also includes the Asian appendix of the Japan Cup.
The rider of Lidl Trek he returned to the race after the efforts of Tour de France and he did it at the Tour of Luxembourg, even though before that there had been the parenthesis of the Trofeo Matteotti. So, how did Ciccone work after his tour? What can we expect? Giulio himself told us… And he did so in a brilliant tone that left a truly pleasant impression on us.
Giulio, your latest efforts. All in all, a good season, aside from the Covid hiccup that kept you from competing in the Giro...
It's almost done, come on! It was a good season, indeed. I always say that if I hadn't contracted Covid, I wouldn't have won the stage at the Dauphiné, I wouldn't have gone to the Tour, and I wouldn't have brought home the polka-dotted jersey. Maybe if I had gone to the Tour of Italy Who knows what I would have done. These, in the meantime, were concrete results.
Let's start right from the end of the Tour: how did it go?
The week after the Grande Boucle, I was still touring half of Europe on the circuits. Having won the jersey, I had these commitments. So I rested for a week, barely a week. I needed it. Having changed plans during the season, I arrived at the end of the Tour really tired.
And how did you work?
I took a few days, 5-6, of complete rest, then a few short outings, and by August 10th I was back in full training. I didn't go to any altitude. Immediately after the Tour, Welcome He called me and told me about Matteotti. I accepted immediately. I knew I needed some races, and I saw them as a great opportunity. And indeed, it was a great way to get back into the swing of things. And it was also kind of like my home race.
The Matteotti was held on September 17th, followed by Luxembourg: what were your feelings? Did you recognize the "superb" leg of the Tour?
I'm going back to the topic of changing plans throughout the year. After the Tour, I needed that break, and we chose Luxembourg precisely to get back into the swing of things. I played it with a focus on workload. And overall, the feeling was good despite the high level. The numbers weren't bad, but as mentioned, the race pace was lacking. And that race was perfect: five stages, the last of which was six days before Emilia, rolling routes with short climbs... The only small regret is that on the most difficult days it was cold, seven degrees Celsius and rainy, and in these cases it's difficult to test yourself or get precise indications.
Six days between Luxembourg and Emilia: how did you manage them?
In the first two, I continued to recover, but by cycling: without it, I would have had the opposite effect, and Luxembourg would have been bad for me rather than good. Then I had a day of intense training, and so these last two days before Emilia were still recovering, unwinding. By cycling, of course. In the end, I didn't do much (exactly the speech that Notari made a few days ago, ed.).
Giro dell'Emilia: What can we expect from Giulio Ciccone?
Emilia is one of those races that I really, really like… but I still have to figure out if it's right for me! Of course, with the riders we have this year, it's tough, especially at the end of the season. But I've worked hard, and I'm mentally inclined, I'm motivated. And at this stage of the season, maybe you can achieve something more just because you're eager. Let's put it this way: expectations are high, we'll see the outcome.
Do you make the same argument for Lombardy?
It's a little different because Lombardy is the big, big goal. It gets to the end and we prepare for it as if it were a World Cup... but that's how it is for everyone. I expect to be fine.
Did you prefer the tougher finale in Como or the more classic one in Bergamo, which will take place next October 7th?
I like this one in Bergamo better. First, because they are streets that I know very well (Ciccone was at the Colpack(Bergamo team, ed.). Second, because the finish in Bergamo requires a different route, with longer and more regular climbs beforehand. True, the finish in Como is tougher, but also more explosive, if you like, while here there's the Boccola climb (Bergamo Alta, ed.), but as I said, you get there by climbing longer climbs. It's a different race.
Then we'll see Ciccone butt heads with Pogacar!
The Lombardia is my big goal. I finished fifth in this race in 2020. The condition is there, something is still missing and I hope to find it with Emilia and Tre Valli Varesine. If everything goes as it should, I'll be as competitive as I want to be.
