In Greek mythology, the goddess of fortune is blind. A skeptic might say that misfortune, on the other hand, has perfect eyesight. Giovanni Carboni after having closed the dark chapter of Gazprom in 2022, he found himself facing in 2023 a series of events unlucky.Nothing too serious, but sportingly speaking it can be said that the man from the Marche region has a score to settle with Lady Luck.
His arrival in the Spanish team Kern Pharma It was full of expectations and good proposals. The conditions at the beginning of the year gave us hope, but then came the the accident on the Teide, the prolonged appendicitis and finally the back injury. Thus another chapter of this first part of the season ends with the forced forfeit to Italian Championship of Comano Terme scheduled for the end of June. Let's find out how the '95-born player feels about this mid-season and how he reacts.
Giovanni, how did you experience this first part of the season?
Let's say I experienced the first part from the point of view physically and mentally in the best possible way, what was missing was a little bit of luck.
Can you explain it better?
As far as training and what I could do, I was ready when asked. But with the accidents and physical problems I found myself in situations beyond my control.
Getting specific, what happened?
Initially I had the accident on Teide, March 3. A car opened its door and I fell inside: this slowed me down a lot. Afterwards I felt sick. a couple of times for appendicitis, which however had not been recognized from the beginning.
In what sense?
The first time I was sick was one week after the Teide accident And I was sick during the night. However, since I was abroad and in a somewhat difficult-to-reach place, I couldn't visit anyone. So everything else was put on the back burner. Appendicitis was initially mistaken for a gastroenteritis problem.
And then what?
I am resubmitted to the Tour of the Alps. In that case I withdrew at the penultimate stage. And that time too it presented itself with strange symptoms and it was not recognizedUntil April 30th, when I was really sick, so bad that I had to go to the hospital. From the tests and the analysis, I had… an enlarged appendix, at risk of peritonitis: I underwent emergency surgeryThe problem is that I've been carrying this whole situation around for two months, because from the first symptoms in March I had surgery at the end of April.
Have you been running in the meantime?
Yes, although I noticed that there was something wrong with my body Especially in my leg. I had a lot of pain in my right thigh. I also had recurring pain in my right abdomen, but I never thought I had an inflamed appendix.
Did the accident leave any after-effects?
Recently, after appendicitis surgery, I started training again and began to experience some inexplicable back pain. Tests revealed that I had suffered a back injury on Teide. microfracture of the D9 vertebra at the intersection with the ribAnd in fact, after the operation, when I went back to the gym, I had these symptoms of pain in my ribs and back. Let's just say there was a series of unfortunate events.
How are you treating this micro fracture?
I had just started training and I stopped, I have to thank Maurizio Radi and the Fisioradi Medical Center who have supported me throughout and have now allowed me to get back to full speed in these last few days. Unfortunately, however, not fast enough to make the Italian championship. I have in fact decided that it is better not to participate.
Mentally, how are you reacting to this whole situation?
Both me and the team we were happy with the first part of the season, because in any case at the Valenciana, in Oman and also at the Gran Camino I didn't get full results, but I did well. We knew in fact that my preparation wasn't focused on having a great February. The main objective and what mattered to the team were the March races.
Throughout all this, you also had to adapt to a new team, a Spanish one, in which you're the only Italian...
I had to get to know my teammates, get to know the team because last year I only arrived at the end of the season. There were a few new mechanics to learn.It went well, too. Everyone says the pace in the first races of the season is very high, and in February you get your best watts, so I felt like my preparation was good. I was satisfiedAt team level I found what the team manager had anticipated and I'm also happy with the choice I made to sign with themIn their own small way, everyone is committed to giving their best, and when things are like this, you can only be happy.
When do you plan to return to racing?
I'm planning to return at the end of July. I'm not sure where yet, but now I have the support of the team and the peace of mind I have, so I'm mostly focused on getting back into shape and taking my time.
Do you have any particular races in mind for the season finale?
I hope I can repeat what I did last year. It would be nice to do well for theAdriatica Ionica RaceHaving the route passing under my house was beautiful and I would love to use it again.
Let's get to a sore point. Kern Pharma wasn't invited to the Vuelta. How did you take the news?
I don't know exactly how things worked and how things went, but we certainly know that the Grand Tours are always great opportunities for us riders. But I think even if this thing falls within the situations beyond my control. So I don't even want to think about it too much. I would like to point out that I'm very sorry I can't play in the Italian championshipRunning that race, for that jersey, is always exciting. A race I always looked up to as a child. Not being able to run it saddens me, but I'm putting a stop to it and looking forward to next year.
You've been through some tough times mentally. Have you always managed to maintain a positive attitude?
Yes, for this I have to thank my family above all because she has always been by my side and supported me. I think that at certain times It is essential to be able to maintain a positive and stable attitude.
Especially coming from last year…
Let's say that the last few years haven't been the best. But now forehead to the next goals.
