Marco Andreaus conquered the his first podium among the under 23s on Sunday 13 March at the Due Giorni for Alessandro Bolis (opening photo Scanferla). He regulated the group sprint behind Manlio Moro, who reached the finish line with a 25-second lead.
«My goal – says Marco Andreaus – was to get a podium during the season, I didn't expect it to arrive so soonAt the beginning of the race I didn't believe in myself much, then little by little I felt that my legs were good and I launched myself into the sprint."
Marco has a happy voice, he is very enthusiastic and you can tell by his words full of passion. It's his first year as an under 23 and he's racing with the Cycling Team Friuli and today we get to know it together.
How did these first few months in the new category go?
Well, the change in category is felt even if I suffered a little less than I expected. The biggest difference I found was in the quality of preparation and training.As a junior, I was never used to training more than three hours in the winter. I was also lucky enough to go to a training camp with the Bahrain Victorious.
What was it like coming face to face with those champions?
Beautiful (he pauses for a moment, as if he were dreaming, ed.), I was in the working group with Colbrelli e Caruso. Pedaling side by side with them is incredible, before I had only seen them on TV. I asked them a lot of questionsI asked Damiano how they tackle climbs and he gave me some advice. At the table we talked about the races they won when they were under.
Any particular advice you remember?
That of not wearing myself out with too many workouts (chuckles, ed.).
Your sports director, Renzo Boscolo, said that Fondriest brought you to them. What convinced you to choose CT Friuli?
I must admit that I already knew the Cycling Team Friuli, there are many riders from Trentino who have run and who run hereRenzo and Maurizio met at the European Championships in Trento and then we all talked about the project and I was convinced to come here.
How do you get along with Maurizio?
Good, in fact, very good. We've been together for three years, since I was a freshman. He treats me like a son, every now and then he comes to my place or invites me to his place to eat pizzaSometimes we go out cycling together in the summer, and he fills me with advice…
What does it tell you in particular?
To stay calm and not to be in a hurry to grow up. Not to exhaust myself with workouts that are too long, I'm at the beginning of my career, things will come at the right time. Above all, he recommends me not to lose my determination..
The next goals?
Since I'm in a continental team I would like to run some international competitionsI'd like to test myself in slightly more challenging races, but everything will come in due time, now I have to finish school.
What school do you go to?
I attend the technical institute in Trento, specializing in mechatronics.
Do you live in Trento?
I live in Borgo Valsugana
Since you're away from the team, do you train alone?
When I unwind, on Mondays and Fridays, I train with some friends of mine who ran until last year. On Tuesdays, I'm at school in the afternoon, so I don't train. On Wednesdays and Thursdays I train long distances aloneIt weighs on me a little, but it's only been two days. Although I hope to be closer to the team next year.
A word from the sports director
«The podium obtained on Sunday is the most concrete and evident thing – says Renzo Boscolo – but Marco also did many other beautiful things. As a team the We always asked to go on the run and in all the races he always managed to get in.He has a great character, and is very practical, he always manages to put into practice what we ask of him.
«More than the result, what matters is the approach, he must learn to run, to struggle throughout the raceOnly in this way will it be able to grow and carve out a niche for itself in higher categories as well. Now the result is not important, getting a victory while always remaining hidden in the belly of the group teaches you little, the boys have to learn to work hard.
Listening to him speak, Marco really seems like a guy with his head on his shoulders, aware of what he's doing.
«He's a very ambitious boy – Renzo continues – but then you have to know how to mediate everythingIt's useless for a first-year rider to run too many stage races or races with the pros. He wouldn't even have time to prepare them, as I always say: first there's school to finish."
