About 2022 which is about to be archived Katia Ragusa He wants to draw a clear line under it and set up the next season with renewed intentions without any particular expectations. The 25 year old of the Liv Racing Xstra He had a difficult year, but it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good. Because there's always something to learn from. And then, as its sports director told us a few days ago, she's really pushing for its relaunch. Giorgia Bronzini.
"After a good winter retreat where I felt good," says the Vicenza native from San Giorgio di Perlena, looking back on her year, "I soon had to face harsh reality. Already from Valenciana I understood that I was not at the level I hoped to be. I thought it was just because it was the start of the season and I was lacking rhythm. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case."
The phone call with Ragusa immediately becomes a chat to exorcise the months that have just passedShe confides to us that she has almost always been of the opinion that she should only speak when faced with results. Easy but we like to listen to everyone, especially athletes who have struggled in their performanceKatia thought she had nothing to say, but she did have something interesting.
Let's get straight to the point. What kind of season was it?
Full of ups and downs. I left wanting to show that I was up to par for my first year on a World Tour team. In fact, I was really excited about this. The preparation went well, in fact. I was enthusiastic, and perhaps this mix was counterproductive for me. I had unconsciously created too many expectations.
And what happened then?
That I found myself always chasing the right condition. And never really being able to reach it, I got a little demoralized.After Liège, for example, I wanted to recover but I had to prepare for the Italian championship and the Giro Donne. A vicious circle began that fueled many doubts in me.I had a top-level 2020, finishing second in the Italian championship and getting called up to the Imola World Championships, but it seemed light years away. I have to tell you that more than once the thought of quitting crossed my mind. In the end, however, my passion for cycling and for my work prevailed. I've never been averse to training.Because I think that's the low-speed warning light for many, if not all. If it comes on too often, it means you're losing interest.
Did you manage this psychological aspect in any way?
Yes, I relied on a mental coachI discussed it with Giorgia (Bronzini, ed.) and since mid-summer I have been working on this professional role. Even in the past, I'd get discouraged if I didn't go. I've always taken the lack of results badly.The mind is an important component. Now, however, with this mental coach, we have set ourselves short-, medium-, and long-term goals.
Giorgia had told us about the consequences of overtraining. Was there something physical about it too?
2021 was not a good season either. But one of the problems this year is also linked to mononucleosisIn March, after I retired from Cittiglio, I became worried. It's true that I wasn't in good shape, but having to stop altogether seemed excessive given how I was. So we did some further investigation and discovered that I'd had it in the winter. I was probably still paying the price. And in women's cycling today you struggle a lot to finish a race if you're not at your best.
Besides, in the team you were practically always the same ones running…
Exactly. We've had so many COVID cases, so many of us have been working overtime. My doctor, once he saw the results of the tests, called me to tell me that I had to stay off for 15/20 days to recover properly.I replied to him from Belgium telling him that I was going to run because otherwise we didn't have the minimum number to start. I must also say that I have also had a lot of bad luck in some circumstances.On the last stage of the Tour of Scandinavia, I was in the breakaway but I got a flat. The wheel change took a while to work and then it didn't help me get back in the race, as almost always happens. The group would have caught us, but anything could have happened. In short, those too are signs of a bad year..
In 2023, you'll be Bronzini's bet, just like Barbieri's. Does that put pressure on you?
No, not at all. I read what Giorgia told you, and I'm so honored by her words. And they inspire me, of course. She believed in me by hiring me, and I want to repay her. Giorgia is a very human person.He doesn't mince his words when he has to talk to you, both from a tactical and moral point of view. Maybe I could compare myself with Rachel on this rather similar situationHats off to her achievements, especially at the European Championships. I'll try, and hope, to relaunch myself like Rachele did.
What did this year teach Katia Ragusa?
I look at the glass half full. I'm grateful for the many breakaways I've made. To get there, considering our high level, requires legs and a racing vision. Then I learned that situations need to be evaluated with a cool head.Think about it calmly and find the solution instead of getting too caught up in the moment or the excitement. I don't want to have any expectations for 2023; I've learned this too.I will set goals that focus more on performance and my growth than on the pursuit of results..
