In the days leading up to the last Italian women's road championship, in a bitter post on social media Alice Maria Arzuffi expressed his regret at not being able to participate in what would have been his last edition. Thus indirectly announcing his upcoming farewell to racingHis last race had been la Vuelta Femenina, which ended prematurely with a withdrawal on the second stage. After that, nothing more, and his words suggested a sort of surrender to physical problems. But that's not exactly how things turned out.
Arzuffi is getting back on his bike more assiduously these days and after the ride we resume the topic related to that post: «I had already made the decision to close at the end of the season at the beginning of the year.It's true, I haven't been feeling well in the last few months, but that was quite accidental—the kind of problems that can happen in our business, interrupting the flow of training and competitions—but even without them, I wouldn't have changed my decision, and that's why I was sorry I couldn't be there, knowing I wouldn't have had other opportunities."
What led you to this step?
I'm turning 32 in November and I honestly think it's the right age to quitMy career has been beautiful but also long, I've done good things and bad things, the right time has come to turn the page, give my life a new direction.
Looking back, what are some of the moments in your career that stick with you, even if they weren't specifically tied to a win?
I think that victories are only the culmination of the overall activity which is made up of many things and various emotions: the teams, the companions who follow one another over the years, the various paths of life that have led me to simply be the person I am now, regardless of the results. I believe that values like that are worth more than any victory. I'll never forget the years in Belgium, and on the road, I can say that the best year for me was 2024, where I still managed to achieve some results and even get called up to the World Championships.
Looking back, how do you see Arzuffi as a young woman who approached this discipline and who also made courageous choices?
With a lot of pride and tenderness, even when I was younger, before starting my career, when I was racing with my cousin (Maria Giulia Confalonieri, ed.) in the youth categories. When it was all just fun. But to be honest, I've always had fun, and I think that's important.
You were the first person to invest body and soul in cyclocross, even moving to Belgium. Is this an experience you'd repeat, and has it had a significant impact on your personal growth, beyond your sporting career?
Yes, without a doubt. I still remember the first time I went to a World Cup race in Belgium. I was still a junior, there was Fausto Scotti as a national team city. I remember looking at these cyclocross campers with their photos on them, each one had their own personal camper, and I was super amazed by this reality and said: «Okay, one day I would like to race in one of these teams and have my own camper…"It was always the goal I had set for myself, to go racing in Belgium and try to focus everything on cyclocross, also because it was always the discipline I was best at.
How did you find it?
When I moved to Belgium to live, it was a great sporting lesson; it helped me improve my technique, race management, and everything else. In fact, I achieved my best results during those years, though. It was also fundamental from the point of view of the person I am today, that is, I learned to manage many things. A cyclocross rider is different from a road racer or a biker: in cyclocross you have your own staff and your own camper, but you really have to know how to do everything and therefore organizing a cross season, racing it really takes a lot of your energy.
In the end, what is your opinion?
I am truly proud of what I have achieved over the years: I certainly wasn't the most successful athlete in the history of cyclocross, but I think someone will remember me anyway.I think I've done something small in cyclocross.
Marrying cyclocross and road is never easy. Looking back, it should have been done sooner, later. Was it the right choice?
It was right because everything was a little different than it is today. I realized that you can't expect to do 25 cyclocross races and then do the full road season. I did cross at the top level, the whole season from September to February, then a small part of the season on the road and by doing those road races I was always able to start the season with an extra gear Compared to the others who had fewer races under their belts. Now, either you're part of a team that supports you fully, that has you do both road and cyclocross activities, but everything is very balanced, or else it's too difficult to manage an entire season.
What advice would you give to those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Try to find time to rest, because it's right to commit to training and racing, but you can't expect your body to run 60 days a year. It's true that cross-country races are shorter than road races, but they really require a lot of energy.
What will you do now?
In the meantime, I want to get back to racing for the second half of the season. I'm just getting back into it now; for a month and a half, I couldn't ride more than 7-8 hours a week. I probably caught a virus at the end of March and dragged myself through April. I kept training until the Vuelta, and then my body gave up. I started training again three weeks ago, very slowly, and now I'm starting the first week of "normal" training. We'll see when I can get back to racing. I'll decide my future at the end of the year, even if... I am part of the Fiamme Oro sports group which I thank for the support that they have given me over all these years and to which I would like to give something back.
