During the January retreat for the Team Cofidis It was training time. Along with the WorldTour riders, who are training for the start of the European calendar, some riders from continental teams also joined them. Two Italians were also present: Nicholas Arrighetti e Diego Bracalente, the first from Biesse Carrera Premac, while the second comes from MBH Bank-Ballan-Csb-Colpack. The two experienced the mechanisms of the WorldTour training for a week, discovering its secrets and learning from the most experienced riders. Intrigued, we asked both men what it was like to experience a week as professionals.
BRACALENTE: «The internship period lasted five days: from Tuesday to SaturdayOn the first day we did lactate tests and on the fourth day we did VO2Max. For the rest we trained normally., pedaling for many hours but always in a calm manner."
ARRIGHIETTI: «We were included in the team right away. At Biesse I am also followed by Luca Quinti, one of the Cofidis trainers, so from that point of view I immediately felt at ease. Throughout the week we followed the same team program: with outings, tests and race simulations».
What week was it?
BRACALENTE: «The thing that struck me immediately was the organization. The team is great, but everything works perfectly. Every evening we received the GPX track of the route for the next day. We were divided into two or three groups, generally: climbers and classics, the third was made up of those who had specific jobs to do."
ARRIGHIETTI: «Beautiful, I had a good time. Within the team everyone does their partThe difference with a continental team is precisely this: each task has its own point of reference. Such a large staff allows us to leave nothing to chance."
Who did you ride with?
BRACALENTE: «A bit with everyone, the first day I was with the sprinters, then I also went with the climbersThe pace was a little higher there, but it wasn't unsustainable. The nice thing is that when you look at them, you don't see any differences with us. then if you stop to think that you are cycling with people who have won stages at the Giro, the Tour and the Vuelta it seems a bit strange».
ARRIGHIETTI: «I was with the Classics group, but the program was more or less similar for everyone. We dedicated a couple of days to testing, one to an intensity training session and the last to race simulations."
What does it feel like to be around WorldTour riders?
BRACALENTE: «One thing I really liked was the seriousness that could be felt during training. No one was being too funny or over-the-top with the pace to get noticed.. For those four or five hours there was maximum concentration."
ARRIGHIETTI: «You get to see how they work at a high level. There are no special things, but it's nice to admire the precision and simplicity with which they do everythingI immediately noticed how they were used to working a certain way. The big difference lies in the team's organization and the resources they have at their disposal."
Was there anyone you compared yourself to?
BRACALENTE: «I actually had the opportunity to speak with each of them. During training I was careful not to do the classic "half wheel" or anything else, almost as if I were in awe. Then, once they stopped, I spoke calmly with each of them. It was as if once they got on the bike they transformed, but this happens to all riders, including me."
ARRIGHIETTI: «I tried to talk to everyone. Although I have mostly found myself often with oldani e Thomas, the only two who spoke Italian. Thomas gave me some useful advice during the race simulations. Seeing him up close made you understand how much experience he had and how each of his movements was dedicated to managing the effort as best as possible."
Do you have time to get settled in in a week?
BRACALENTE: «The days go by the same way whether you're riding a WorldTour or a continental team. You ride and come back for lunch. Time for a massage or a trip to the osteopath, and it's time for dinner. There aren't many free hours. On the first day you settle in straight away and then everything goes normallyThe license changes, but we are still cyclists."
ARRIGHIETTI: «The big change concerns the organization of the team and that we pedal a little harder. But otherwise cycling is made up of the same things, at every level.We eat the same things and the routine is very similar. The big difference is that in the WorldTour you work to make everything perfect."
Were there other guys with you?
BRACALENTE: «There were two other riders under 23: a Frenchman and a Spanishman. We talked about training and what we do in life besides cycling.. Talking about it, it emerges that even if we are all amateurs, our primary goal is to be cyclists."
ARRIGHIETTII spoke to them a bit, even though I know Spanish cycling quite well. Last year Montoli and this year the Bessega twins told us a lot about how they run in those parts."
