But why not also think about a Paris-Roubaix for Samuele Zoccarato? He has plenty of determination, a powerful physique and two national gravel titles. «Because we also have to be realistic – replies the person directly concerned – A Roubaix, yes, would be nice and I certainly wouldn't be afraid to throw myself into it, but perhaps a Strade Bianche would be more suitable. It's a race that's more suited to my characteristics, there are also some uphill climbs. As I was saying, you have to be realistic: I'm not a super winner and for certain races you also need a big team. However, I think I can be a good domestique."
With the new Italian gravel champion of the VF Group-Bardiani So let's take stock of his unusual season. Tour of Italy not done, the races in the North, precisely the offroad experience… Samuele is never banal and the conversations flow quickly.
Samuele, let's start with a small step back and the good Italian road championship you had...
I'd been riding strong for a while now, at least by my standards, obviously. I felt good. So, honestly, it wasn't a surprise that I did so well at the Italian road race. Already at the Tour of Greece I had seen that something had changed: I was able to stay in front much more easily. Then I went to Holland and again I felt very good. Up there, In my four years as a professional I had never managed to stay at the front of a fan. This time, in every fan, I was in the lead, always the protagonist. It means I was working the right way.
You've reaped the benefits of your preparation for the Giro, and perhaps you've even got a little more grit, the desire to prove that Zoccarato was there...
Yes, a little bit. I wanted to show that I still have something to prove. And then I think that the race days in Holland gave me a rhythm that I had never had this year.
Is it different running with your good leg up there?
Absolutely yes, because instead of suffering the race and just struggling, you do it and manage it. Up there, if you give up for a moment, even mentally, you're dead. But with good condition and a bit of determination, it's a whole different story. I had fun for the first time in the North.
Let's get to the Italian gravel. You've done it twice. You already won it in 2022. This specialty is somehow attractive. How did it go?
At first I didn't really want to go. Then I asked the team to build me a bike, as I said, with the specific materials. They succeeded and in the end this choice bore fruit.
What were your specific requests?
First of all, the gear ratios are suitable for the route, so for example I had a 44 in the front and a 9-44 in the back. Then some very smooth-rolling tires. Ideal coverage in my opinion for that type of route.
Well, you had studied it again then…
Yes, otherwise I wouldn't have gone. I wouldn't have been a total Italian gravel racer. I had read about the route from the poster and the GPS files I found. I had also looked at it the day before. I wanted to do a reconnaissance the week before, but partly because the bike wasn't ready yet and partly because it didn't fit in well with my training, I didn't go.
How did the race go?
We started off pretty strong, as happens on the road. I had some problems at the beginning. I crashed after 15 kilometers on a downhill section that I'd already realized the day before could be dangerous. I entered a kamikaze curve... and ended up on the ground. Then my chain came off twice. I saw that there was something wrong with it. Augustine which was very fast uphill and I was a bit afraid of it (also because of his riding skills, Agostinacchio is a biker and cross-country rider, ed.). On the second lap, I tried to make a "pheasant" run, but it didn't go well. So after a few kilometers, I gave it a hard push and finally managed to stay alone.. And so I remained until the arrival.
And how much was missing?
About 60 kilometers. But from that point on, everything got easier because I was going at my own pace. I had no visibility issues on the technical sections of being behind someone and risking making a mistake. It was all about pushing. Ride confidently on the technical sections and push hard on the more rideable sections.
And now let's look ahead. You're at the Tour of Austria. What's your plan after that?
Now I have some time to take a break, I should also go on a high altitude training camp but I don't know where yet. I should resume at the beginning of August with the Arctic Race of Norway and then the Tour of Denmark. I don't want to stop, I feel very good.
We can imagine…
I should still be competing in the Italian calendar races later on. There's plenty of room to try and get some results.
