FORLIMPOPOLI – At the bus of the UAE Emirates Gen Z, joking with Giacomo Notari, the boys' trainer, it was said that the Giro Next Gen Pablo Torres's performance risked being overshadowed by Widar's featsThese two, Torres and Widar, were the ones who animated the under 23 pink race from start to finish. Both born in 2005, strong and bold, they have in common great talent and young age.
A clear improvement
If Widar's talent as a champion had been evident even in the junior category, the same cannot be said for Torres. Many stage races, but all in Spain, except for a quick stop in France and ItalyThe second place is even more surprising when compared to past results. Torres has won a lot when competing in national competitions, but when he moved internationally the results were not the same.
“It was a very tough race right from the start,” he says while warming up with a cooling jacket in the shade of the bus, “with a high pace. When I arrived here the first few days I didn't know what my level would beI was training really well at altitude, but I didn't know what my rivals would be like. However, right from the first stages, I had a great feeling and I managed to fight for second place."
How did you get into cycling?
When I was little, I used to watch the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España with my grandparents. It was great entertainment, I enjoyed it, but it remained mostly a pastime. I wasn't training yet, I played football, then a pain in my knee led me to use the bikeI immediately loved cycling, and it soon became an increasingly serious commitment.
You are at UAE Emirates Gen Z, how are you doing?
The team is a marvel, the best in the world. I'm super happy for the opportunity they gave me and I'm working to make the most of it. and learn everything you can.
In this short time you've already raced with the professionals, what can you tell us?
The pace is really fast but I had a lot of determination and a great desire to give my all for the teamLearning from the greatest who taught me so much in those experiences.
You're gaining a lot of international experience and good results...
I think that your motivation changes a lot when you run in a team like that. There is another way of running, of seeing the race. Last year I didn't have the chance to do many races outside of Spain, I can say that the pace is very different. It is difficult, in these categories, to know your rivals, something that is very noticeable in the raceThere is less tactics.
Il Giro Next Gen It was the second eight-day stage race, how did you find it?
I like it, I think that in the end maintaining a higher pace for a long time gives me benefits. I am a rider who performs best in long-duration efforts. and these types of races suit me best.
You've improved a lot on the climbs, how did you train?
I worked hard with the staff during the winter training camp and during the season. I must say that getting these good results gives a lot of morale for the future. So I hope to continue with this motivation.
Notari's words
Part of the credit for Pablo Torres' rapid growth goes to Giacomo NotariThe trainer who has been following him in the youth project of the UAE Emirates.
"We didn't know him very well at first," explains Coach Notari, "also because he hadn't done much as a junior. But he's the guy everyone would like to coach; he doesn't say much and gets things done. We immediately noticed that he had good numbers throughout the training.In the tests done during the training camp before Sestriere we had seen good numbers, but he had never raced for so many days. In the Fosse stage he did the last 28 minutes of climbing at 6 watts per kiloWith us, he needs to learn the mental attitude to win and understand how it's done. And he'll be here to be competitive in 2025, too."
