From Colombia to Italy. The GW Shimano Sidermec boasts a team of 15 Colombian athletes, one Norwegian and two Italians, Filippo Tagliani e Alessandro BisoltiTwo riders who represent the Italian outpost of a South American team that gave them the confidence and the means to compete.
Few races, but a great desire to collect results and to act as a mother hen for the young talents who grow under the guidance of John SavioFilippo and Alessandro live in the same area, they are 10 years apart, but they share the same ambition to do well in local cycling. The Italian championship will take place in Comano Terme on June 24th and for them the race has the value of a small rainbow disguised as a tricolour.
Filippo Tagliani, how's your season going?
I'm running a little, I'd say pretty good. I only did the Tour of Sicily and the Tour de Bretagne, plus two one-day trips, Tour of the Apennines and Tour of the Metropolitan City of Reggio CalabriaA single, very close block.
How are your workouts going?
Training-wise, I'm doing very well. The feeling is good. I hope something will be unblocked by the end of the season and with a view to 2024.I'm a bit short of meeting people to show off who I am and measure myself against the work I'm doing.
In about twenty days there will be the Italian language exam. What does it mean for you?
For my characteristics I have to say that it is very hardI'm trying to prepare as best I can, to arrive in good shape and lean so as not to have any regrets, but I know it'll be tough for me. Honestly, I don't even know what to expect. I'll get to 100 percent, that's for sure.
You and Bisolti are the only Italians in the band. Do you talk often?
We talk frequently. I just got back from training with him. We've known each other forever, even before we ran together.We live 30 kilometers away, we've always gone out with the same group of pros from the area. This year we the only two Italians and we support each other in many ways.
What is your role within the team?
We are the two with the most experience and we try to to act as a mother hen for the young people a little and be a point of reference when the team comes to race in Italy. Being one Colombian staff, all the kids are over there, it's not easy for them to come here and settle in straight away. The team actually runs a lot, but only in Colombia, they come here in blocks. They made one at the beginning of the season with five boys. Now five more have arrived for the Giro Next Gen and it will be the same for September.
How do you see Bisolti for Italian?
He was unlucky because he had a bad fall in the Apennines. He didn't break anything, but his pedaling is bad and he's in a lot of pain. It would have been a path suited to his characteristics. Besides, the race is 30 kilometers from his home. There are 20 days to go, but it's not easy to recover from what he's been through.
«I started off quite well – confirms Bisolti, who turned 38 in March – then I got sick coinciding with the Reggio Calabria race. So I had a bit of a long break. I had recovered well for the Giro dell'Appennino event, but I had a bad fall and now I find myself very bruised and with a big question mark about Italian."
What injury did you suffer?
Luckily, I don't have any fractures. I fell on the downhill due to a rear-end collision. It was like a highside, like those you see in MotoGP. I hit my head, I still have one eye and a black foreheadI can barely lift my arm, and my back hurts with abrasions all over my body. I've only been out for four days, but now I have to grit my teeth because of the pain every time I pedal. I hurt everywhere except my legs (laughs, ed.). Ice all day and Tecar. The fact is that the helmet split in two, so maybe it went well that way…
Will you be ready for Italian?
Overall, I'm starting to get some normal training outings. The problem is that I have to change my bandages every three hours, and I can't sleep at night. I liked the route right awayIt's tough and it's close to home so I know most of the roads.
Is this still a goal of yours?
June was and is an important month for me. First, because the two races scheduled (the Apennines and the Italian one, ed.) suit my characteristics. Second, because I am the only two scheduled for me and Filippo this month. But I have to say it will be difficult to be ready for that day.
Do you know the route?
I haven't been to see it yet, because in my head I would have had plenty of time. Unfortunately, this unexpected event happened, so... I'll go there only in the next few daysMy parents are from Pinzolo, I just have to figure out which roads are on the route, but I'm sure I've already done them more than once.
What is your relationship with Tagliani?
We live nearby. I live on Lake Idro while he lives in Soprazocco on Lake Garda. I'll go in the winter to train in his areas to recover some degrees, while he comes in the summer, to get some fresh air.
And after Italian?
I hope we can run more than expected. We only have September on our agenda, but it is easy to understand that if this were the case, it would mean stopping for longer than a winter break… The paradox is that my Colombian teammates have already done 40 races, so it's also difficult for them to manage a team in Italy when they have so many opportunities to race in Colombia. It's not easy moving forward, but that's how it is. And we're ready to do our best when we have the chance.
Have you already talked to Savio about the Italian flag?
Currently is very focused on the Giro Next Gen, there are promising young people so we will definitely address the issue before Italian.
