Jacopo Fly, one of the teammates that everyone would like and capable of carving out a large space for himself in the team hierarchy. The Piedmontese rider is also a good handler on the downhill, someone who he knows how to ride the bike and is capable of transmitting the sensations of the vehicle to mechanics, comrades and interlocutors in general.
Moscow uses the new Madonna, integrated cockpit with negative mount, 28" tubeless tires and 75mm wide wheels in trainingThe Aeolus RSL 75 were given to him by Elisa Longo BorghiniWe had a long chat with him.
What bike do you use?
I started riding the latest version of the Madone at the Tour of Croatia and haven't looked back since. It's a superb bike in many ways. improved a lot when compared to the previous modelI also like to push it a bit further and in training I use it with the 75 wheels that Elisa gave me.
Why do you use 75s in training?
I like to show them off and I like to show off a bike that everyone turns to look at. The Madone It's already important in itself with the shapes they gave it, with a pair of wheels like this it's even more so. From a technical point of view a pair of very tall wheels prepare you for anything, considering that in training you go slower. Using this type of product in competition is complicated, unless you tackle a completely flat race with an almost total absence of technical sections where you need to ride the bike a lot.
What wheels do you have in the standard equipment for training?
The 51 ones with tubeless tires.
Aero bike and 51" wheels: is this the best compromise for you?
For a rider like me, it's the perfect setup. Technically and for the task I normally perform, 3/400 grams more on the bike doesn't make a difference. On a climb I can break away 200 meters later if I have a lighter bike, but it doesn't make much difference to me. A bike with this setting and this rigidity offers advantages if you have to return, if you have to shoot with the wind in your face and if you have to sprintA climber prefers the Emonda, but he needs to stay on the wheel on the flats and needs to take advantage of greater reactivity when the road goes uphill. At this year's Giro I only used the Emonda in five stages, the rest with the Madone and 62 wheels.
Given the same configuration, did you gain any weight between the new and the old one?
Circa 400 grams, meaning that the new bike is lighter.
What are the main differences you notice?
The new Madone is stifferIt offers a different level of comfort than the previous version, considering it no longer has IsoSpeed. The new one is a truly modern aero bike, perhaps less versatile and more specific, but most likely for us riders it's better this wayIt's fast and even on very technical sections it's a sword. It's pretty mean and when you ask for it, it always gives, but it's still easy to handle.
And instead for the handlebars, do you tend to narrow the position of your shoulders?
The new handlebar will take me to use size 39/42, narrower at the top and wider at the bottom. I'll try it at the first retreat, where we'll also finalize all the new materials and equipment.
And what do you say about tubeless?
I only use those now, since February of last year I've completely switched. They're the ultimate in comfort during training and they show greater safety than clinchers and tubularsIf you puncture, you may not even notice. I never got a puncture in a raceIn my opinion, the new tubeless tires are as comfortable as tubulars, there's very little difference and once you get used to them, you realize that they're also very fast. The performance of a tubeless tire is not just about the rubber, but it's a combination of things.
What width do you use?
Generally 28. When going downhill I don't back down and I'm one of those who bends the bike a lotThe tires grip great, are fast and don't lose grip.
Do you decide on the bike setup yourself, or is it the result of a discussion between you and the mechanic?
Generally, we riders decide, but there's no rule, it always depends on the mechanic too. We're lucky to have a pool of mechanics always on the ball, among these there is also Mauro Adobati who is able to provide advice on the best choices, between wheels, tires and gears. He is one of those mechanics who is able to prepare the bike also based on the work you have to do in the race.
Do you have an example you can give?
At this year's Giro, before the start of the Cogne stageI set out with the idea of breaking away up the mountain with the climbers. I didn't succeed, and yet I left with the old Madone and the 62" wheelsBefore the start I met with Mauro Adobati that he had prepared a lighter Emonda on the flagship, in case of a quick change on the climb. It didn't help.
You're seeing the Time pedals on your Madone. Any new settings for 2023?
Yes, starting next year we'll have the Time and we've started using them to get familiar with them. I use the tfixed axes, without lateral play.
Compared to the previous pedals, have you lowered the position?
No, I kept the same one, there is a difference of 0,3 millimeters compared to those used previously, but I preferred not to lower the saddle. Furthermore, these Times with the new fixed cleats They are quite rigid and there is no movement of the foot and this is a great advantage for those who like a fixed combination with the pedal.
Aren't you worried that being slightly higher on the saddle might cause discomfort or friction in the saddle area?
It's an irrelevant difference, I'm also used to having my skin in contact with the paddingI don't use any creams, except for this moment of resuming training and I haven't had any problems so far.
What do you think about the new ratios that are being used?
The 54 has become a necessity, you go faster and faster for long periods. In the race I use the combination 54-41 and I use the rear gears a lot, usually our sprocket range goes up to 33It depends a lot on the route and the task at hand. I'd say climbers use the 52-39 combinations a lot, a solution I'm thinking of using during this period of resuming training. It's unlikely that I'll do a long climb with the leaders., sometimes in a big Giro it is essential for me to get to the finish and be performing well in other situations.
