Manuel Oioli He is one of the promising youngsters of our youth cycling (instagram photo at the beginning). Born and raised in Borgomanero, a stone's throw from Lake Maggiore, this year he moved up to under 23, wearing the shirt of Contador Foundation, antechamber of the professional Eolo-KometaHis debut in the under 23 category is proceeding smoothly, and now that he's finished school he can concentrate on the bike.
"I graduated last month," he tells us on the other end of the phone, "in July, from the linguistic high school, with 76 out of 100, a good result considering the commitment to cycling."
How was it balancing school with your sports commitments?
I have to say it was pretty simple, the team never put pressure on me, on the contrary, they put everything at my disposalI was the one who decided to give cycling a minimum priority, and the school helped me with this.
In what sense?
As an athlete of national interest, all absences due to sporting activities were not counted. I had to come to an agreement with the school principals and teachers.I was also given more freedom in class. I had scheduled tests and quizzes. Let me give you an example: If I was involved in a competition on Sunday, the next day at school they wouldn't be able to question me.This was helpful in making all the commitments coincide.
It seems you did it well…
Yes, I'm very satisfied academically, and I'd also say with what I did in the winter as preparation. The biggest problem is winter, more or less until February, when the days are short.I often ate at school and went straight to training. When I had to run long runs, I left an hour or two early. Ultimately, the big "problem" for us first-years is school. Obviously, I've done a little less than the older kids.
How did the adaptation go?
It's going as I expected, I've had some good placings in some races. The pace and the way of running is different, the level is raised a bit and it takes a bit more time to adapt.I am a rider who, in order to make the most of the good work I've done in preparation, has to run, otherwise I won't improve.
You're on a Spanish team that races in both Spain and Italy. How did you manage your commitments?
From a logistical point of view, the team organizes the trips, We usually fly to Spain two days before the race, sleep in the team's apartment which is just outside Madrid and then we raceThere's a huge difference in the way we run between Italy and Spain. In our country, the races are frenetic and tense. While in Spain, there's more control, more calm, and a more linear approach to running.
Are there any other differences?
One in particular. In Spain there are many stage races, I do it between June and July I've raced four. In Italy we don't even have four in the entire calendar, this is the main flaw in my opinion. Doing stage races gives you an extra edgeYou feel the growth immediately, you learn how to manage your strength, how to recover…
You haven't raced much in Italy, but you did the Trofeo Piva, your only international race. What do you think?
That in Italy the level is higher than in Spain. On the day of Beer I wasn't feeling particularly well, plus I'm suffering from the cold and it had also snowed, let's just say it wasn't my day. The best thing would be to do a lot of stage races in Italy, this would be the activity I would like to do.
When you return to racing in Italy, do you notice any differences?
I miss the pace we have here; I can't handle the changes in pace and the constant sprints. That's why I'd like to run more here. but if I have to choose between a stage race in Spain or a one-day race in Italy, I choose the first.
How's it going with the Fundacion Contador?
We are 15 riders, a more than sufficient number for the calendar we follow, we often find ourselves doing double duty. The team is divided between Italians and Spaniards, but we mix without problemsIf you were to ask me to tell you any differences between the two groups, I wouldn't find any.
How is the project for first-year athletes like you managed?
The team's goal for first-year riders is to complete 30 to 40 days of running. At the beginning of the year I had a few more difficulties because I didn't run much, while in the summer I felt better.We Italians have an Italian trainer, who's better, even just for communications. When we go racing in Spain, however, our sports director of reference is obviously Spanish.
And from here to the end of the season?
The team opted for a rest period in August, but starting this week I'll start training more intensely to be ready for the September and October races. I will do some more stage races in Spain and then some races in Italy, but I don't know my commitments well yet.
