For a former pro, it's never easy to redesign your life once you get off the road bike, on which you spent so much of your time, between sacrifices and successes. We had Diego Rosa left in 2022 aware that his career as a road racer would be over to start the biker one. We found him seven months later Italian champion in the marathon specialty.
An important result that rewards a deliberate, but perhaps somewhat premature, choice. The tricolor on the chest and the ninth place achieved a week ago at the world championships in Glasgow (FCI photo at the beginning), but they have the taste of revenge and they are a motivation to continue pedaling off-road just like at the beginning of his career.
Diego, you're the Italian marathon champion. Let's rewind and tell us how this "first" off-road season is going...
At the beginning of the year, I took part in Gran Fondos and tried out a few stage races, to gain some familiarity with the opponents I would later face in the marathons. These were a lot of races that I needed to gain experience. I started off better than I expected.I reached the second half without having broken any bones yet, so the overall result is more than positive (laughs, ed.), that alone was enough for me, I wouldn't have expected anything.
So everything is going smoothly then?
In the first part of the season I won a Gran Fondo, I saw that I was more or less always in front, but there was a lack of comparisons in international competitions. However, in the second part of the season, they arrived. From a sporting perspective, let's say that the second part was also a bit bittersweet, it started with the World Cup and I went to altitude to prepare for that block of races including the European Championships and the Hero. But in Finale I broke two ribs and at the European Championship I punctured, but in any case I wasn't in the best conditions. Then I had a good Italian race and a good world championship. High morale, since I see myself in front of me and I'm happy with where I am now.
In terms of pace, was it easy or difficult to get into the mindset of these marathon races, coming from seasons on the road?
Actually the part where I thought I would suffer the most at the start and in the first part of the raceBut already in the Gran Fondos and the first races of the year I saw that I didn't have any big problems at the start. On the shorter, more cross-country courses I struggle more. However, on those courses where you need more endurance I can have my say. I saw that at the end of the race I always manage to have something more even if My weak point remains short climbs.
Have you hung up your road bike or are you still training on narrow-wheeled bikes?
I use it a lot, I do two or three-day work blocks and on each work block I only go out on the MTB once. I alternate periods when I use the mountain bike more and times when I use it a little less, it also depends a bit on the logistics. Right now, for example, I'm at the beach and I came down on the mountain bike. So let's say 70% road and 30% mountain bike.
An unbalanced percentage to say the least…
I know I'm not that used to it when I go out on the mountain and so I'm going to overload and have aches and pains all overI'm kind of forced to alternate it more every now and then because the upper part has been stationary for years.
From a technical standpoint, you told us you needed to get back to familiarizing yourself with this new generation of mountain bikes, their settings, and details. How are you finding it?
But certainly very well, From November to today I have already changed three bikes. I passed by Specialized I've been using the 100cc Epic, the 120cc one, and now I'm using the World Cup, so I've also had the chance to understand the differences between one bike and another. The 120cc ones allow you to ride much more, they're much more stable. Now I probably have more fun with the World CupIt's a bit of a riding style that goes back to the old "frontino," a middle ground. Honestly, if I had to make this transition to mountain biking with the bikes I used 10 years ago, it would have been much, much more complicated. We raced a world championship on a really technical course, with a lot of mud. My riding skills aren't at that level, though. I finished the world championship, I didn't fall and I didn't have a puncture, the bike definitely helped me a lot.
And from the team's point of view, how are you finding it?
Very well. We are a team of former road riders. The Taddei Factory Team now, with me and Riccardo Chiarini, before there were Failli and Casagrande, has always had a certain mentality. We all race together. At the beginning of the season, I made myself available to Failli and Chiaro in several races, and now they knew that when my turn came, they would help me like they did in the Italian Championships. We like to race as a team, and I really get along well. They have made the same transition, they help me with advice that they have already tried on their skinAnd then the way of running is a bit like that of a road racer.
Coming to the Italian result. What does it mean for you? It's a bit of a confirmation of this choice...
Yup, It was a revenge that repays me for the efforts made and the decisions madeTelling your family you're stopping racing and then finding yourself having to go away to high altitudes and race every weekend isn't easy. I've been chasing the Italian national team jersey for years, and I'm very happy to wear it. It's one of those jerseys that reminds everyone and yourself every Sunday that you won that race. It has a special flavor.
To close out the World Championship, what did this ninth place show you?
This World Cup had two facesIn the first part I lost four minutes. It was a very technical route and above all there were difficult descents which ended before the flat sections, so I lost on the descents and then I was left in the wind. The second part was more about pedaling with smoother descents and in the last two hours I lost only 20 seconds to the winnerSo I'm happier about that. In the second half I pedaled harder than the winner, but on the downhill I lost. I know there's still room for improvement.I always look at the glass half full.
And how is your season developing now?
Now I'm at the seaside for a few days with my family, because they absolutely deserve it and I need it too. And then I'll go back to running. Kronplatz, then the Mythos and two World Cup events.
Have you put a date on the season finale?
We don't know yet, we've prepared the trips to France for the World Cup and to America and then we'll see from there. having the Italian champion's jersey, the more you run the better it is, you have to show it off (laughs, ed.).
