The tricolor to shine in the WorldTour. The victory in the Italian championship at the end of June in Puglia has opened the doors of the Bike Exchange-Jayco to Filippo Zana, who has signed a three-year contract with the Australians. There is a great desire to grow in the twenty-three-year-old from Vicenza who blossomed in Bardiani Csf-Faizanè which, in addition to dressing up with the symbol of national primacy, he almost won the Italian title at the World Championships in Australia.
We left you on that little bridge 4 kilometers from the finish line of the world championship: can you tell us about it?
We were me and Sobrero. It would have been nice to run, though. it was a great experience: everything in life is useful.
There's one thing in common between the Italian championship you won and the World Cup, namely the absence of radios: can you tell us something behind the scenes?
At the Italian championship we were following the car, also because the first part was online and we didn't have much information. I also went behind to ask how we were doing and what we had to do.: luckily it went well for me.
Was it an advantage for your running style not to have any references?
Let's say that in the end you always need legs. Then, The radios give some advantage, but if you have legs you stay in front, otherwise you'll lose ground.
And at the World Cup?
We were trying to give as many references and information as possible to our companions. Probably with the radios something could have changed and, perhaps, Rota's group would not have been filmed. However, Evenepoel showed that he is the strongest and the name of the winner it wouldn't have changedI don't find much sense in always running with little radios and then are missing in the two or three times a year where you are playing for something very important. That's the way the rules are, so I adapt and try to do my best.
2022 was an incredible year for you: did you expect it?
Let's just say there have been a lot of ups and downs this year. Al Tour of Italy I wasn't very happy, then luckily the condition arrived, so I showed up for a month and a half, after which the shirt arrived.
What has changed since you wore the tricolour?
La the shirt weighs a little, I always try to honor her as best I can. It's hard, but I hope to start off on the right foot next year too, where I'll have a lot of motivation. The move up a team excites me, it's good for morale, let's hope we do well.
What do you expect from this adventure at the Bike Exchange?
I think that Entering the WorldTour is the dream of all young people who start cyclingI managed to achieve what as a child seemed so far away and Now I run alongside great champions.
We are in years of great change, with the arrival of many very young talents like Pogacar, Van Aert, Evenepoel: what do you think?
They are gods phenomena we have to run againstI hope to assert myself and to assert myself every now and then.
Would you like to do a grand Giro or do you have your sights set on some classics?
I would like to do a great Giro in support of some of my companions then, if there is an opportunity and the condition is on my side, maybe I will have a few days of freedom if you are there with a bit of energyThe classics are beautiful, perhaps a little less suitable for me, but if there were any chance… The most suitable for me might be Liège, then I would like to do the Roubaix at least once in my life and enter the hell of the cobbles. All the races you go to are good for winning..
With your tricolor you represent the Italian movement, which is shining on the track led by Ganna, but which is also receiving too much criticism on the road...
Many have criticized our movement and talked about a crisis, but I don't think it's in that much trouble, given that we were also up there at the World Championships and were in the race all day. Of course, right now we don't have a phenomenon who can win the classics or Grand Tours like Pogacar or Evenepoel. Maybe we are missing that multifaceted star, but it seems excessive to say that we are in a very bad situation. As the years go by we can still grow a lotWe have many young people who are growing up, so we hope to find an Italian phenomenon too.
Will you treat yourself to a little relaxation?
Sat down the need for a nice vacationI've been wanting to go to Kenya for a long time and I'm going with my girlfriend.
Your typical fall workout?
I try to always go out, after the quarantine the rollers only gathered dustMy personal climb is the Costo that goes to Asiago, because I think it is the warmest in Veneto in winterAnd then it's the meeting place for cyclists from the Alto Vicentino area.
Alone or in company?
There are a few professionals who live in the area, so we find ourselves on the street. There's Brambilla, then Battistella and Richeze, who lives in Bassano. We bump into each other at training and get to know each other, so it's nice that way too.
