The anticipation for the start of the Giro d'Italia. It's growing because of this unusual departure from Hungary, despite the war just across the border. But if we look forward to the Giro because it's "our" race, there's one rider who looks forward to the start from Budapest more than others. It's Attila Valter.
We got to know him last year right on our streets, when for three days he even wore the pink jersey. Fu Bernal, the final winner, to take it away from him.
Emotion and pressure
«When I hear the music of the Giro it's always a thrill – says Valter – And this year it will be really strange to start from Budapest (his hometown, ed.). I like racing in Italy, the races are great and most of them are suitable for me, so yes: it is strange.
«I feel this appointment very much, Of course. I've been waiting for it for a long time, but I'm also a little scared because now more and more people are watching me in my country. I think by May there will be 10 million people expecting good results from me. It's not easy. And I put pressure on myself too."
"The organization is hungry. I know they're doing a great job. They've got a lot of people involved, and there are launch events. And then I see the reactions on my social media. I have thousands of comments. People telling me they'll be there. Who will arrive at the starting line. The Giro will be the main event in my country."
Attila cares, and all of this was to be expected. Last time the team told us that winning the pink jersey had brought a turning point to his fame, but honestly we didn't imagine it to this extent. But it's nice, and it tells us, once again, what the Giro represents in the world. Perhaps by marketing it differently, we could be a little less "tour-centric." But that's another matter entirely. Let's leave the digressions aside.
Good legs
But the desire to do well isn't enough. And Valter knows it well. You have to train, constantly improve to keep up, and improve even more to climb the rankings. And in the Groupama-FDJ that's exactly what they're doing with Attila.
He's growing gradually. The engine is there, but it needs to be developed, as does his ability to stay in a group. In this sense, his fourth-place finish in Siena is a great sign. Of course, the Hungarian stages will not be easy for him. Both because they are not very well suited to his characteristics, and because he will be very marked.
"I had a normal start to the season," says Attila. "I felt strong especially in the first two races, then I calmed down a bit. I have a good number of races under my belt, I'm doing well, but going strong in a major Giro is really difficult; it's not just a matter of training."
Last year he understood that a great Giro is much more. It's constant concentration, consistently high performance, pressure... it's overcoming bad days. And in those three days in pink he really learned a lot.
Attila and Hungarian cycling
As the sports director also mentioned to us MauduitValter has made a significant impact on the spread of cycling in Hungary, if only because of the following. And he himself confirms this.
"There are more and more professionals," says the Groupama-FDJ rider, "so I think it's a normal progression. And that helps a lot. Two or three years ago I realized that there were many people who liked cycling in Hungary, but they did it almost secretly because it wasn't our main sport. Then I realized that many people were watching Tour de France and many the Giro and after my pink jersey there are more people who watch the races".
“Almost secretly on the bike”: even his start on the bike wasn’t so obvious or straightforward.
"All kids," Valter explains, "know how to ride a bike, and everyone uses it here like everywhere else, but a French, German, or Dutch kid sees riders in some race and says, 'I want to be like them.'" In Hungary, that wasn't possible. In high school, I went to a sports school. Everyone was playing handball, soccer, swimming… so it was a bit strange that I was the only one out of 500 people riding a bike."
