La Lidl Trek He just finished a truly memorable Giro d'Italia in the team's history. Six stage wins with three different riders, 17 top-ten finishes, five days in the pink jersey and a cyclamen jersey dominated from the first day with Mads pedersen.
But what was also striking was the team spirit they demonstrated Over the three weeks, Ciccone led the flat stages, the Harrogate world champion made himself available to his teammates on the more challenging stages, and much more. How do you build such cohesion? We asked this to Luca Guercilena, general manager of the team.
Luca, was the one you just finished your best Giro ever?
We've won stages and even the points jersey before, but never dominated like this. This time, we won six stages. goal we had never achieved not only at the Giro d'Italia, but in general in no Grand TourThe fact that they arrived with three different riders makes everything even more extraordinary.
And in all of this you lost Ciccone, who finally seemed to have the chance to aim for a good (excellent?) ranking.
That's a big regret. He had done very well in the two time trials and there were many climbs suitable for him in the third week, so it's clear that It's a shame that I couldn't take advantage of this opportunity.The Tour he seems bewitched by Giulio, for one reason or another he never managed to demonstrate his potential, and this year he had shown that he was in the best position and positionBut he will try again, we will try again.
Your team spirit immediately seemed something special.
I'd say it's always been one of our characteristics. There are teams that get results with just one athlete, but we've tried to be a group that helps each other. Then Having Mads has given us a quantum leap, it is obvious that a competitive team pulls together, because winning helps to win. Hoole's victory, however, is built over time, with research on materials and with specific work for time trials. The stage won by Verona demonstrates his great character, showed how ready we were to support Giulio in the hardest stages.
How is this spirit created? Is it a staff direction or does it arise spontaneously from the riders?
We don't have a huge turnover, just a lot of riders. they stay with the team for many years and therefore a solid relationship can be built, then everything becomes easier. In recent seasons we have increased the number of pre-race retirements, so the boys share many days togetherThey did it before the Giro too. In a three-week race, problems always arise, but with a close-knit group, they're resolved much better.
We have already mentioned the stage winners and Ciccone, but the young Vacek also made a good impression.
Mathias is a returning athlete in the classic group, which he shared with Mads. He's young and still has to get used to it, but I think that in this Giro he has demonstrated the qualities he has.In the Siena stage, for example, or even in Vicenza, he achieved incredible numbers. With experience, he will become a point of reference.
Only for the classics or in the future also with a view to the general classification?
For cycling today, at least at this moment, he is an athlete who can do well in the classics or in some stagesThe best ones are around 65-67 kg, while Vacek is above 70 kg so it's more difficult to think about the ranking. With time and a particular altimetry, never say neverFor now I see it for the individual stages and for the classics.
The stage won by Verona thrilled everyone. What was it like experiencing it from the inside?
It was a huge thrill for us too. Carlos has always dedicated himself to others, he has always devoted himself to the leader and we have tried to enhance his qualities. The day before we were in low spirits due to Ciccone's withdrawal and that morning the sports directors had tried to motivate the boys as much as possibleCarlos managed to transform that moment into a great performance, both physically and in terms of character, in a very demanding stage. The fact that then I dedicated that victory to Julius, also having his whole family waiting for him at the finish line, It's definitely one of the most beautiful things about this Giro.
And then there's Pedersen, who runs and acts like a charismatic leader.
Mads can be compared to a team flag, he moved up to the WorldTour with us and will stay with us. His peculiarity is that despite being an absolute top-level champion, it still costs a lotHe's a charismatic person, and others look up to him because he always gives his all. He supports the team and his teammates; when it's time to keep their feet on the ground, he does, but when it's time to raise the bar, he's the first to do so. He's someone who prefers to demonstrate firsthand and then ask othersHe's a great example. And he also likes to joke, as seen in his bet with Moscow.
In fact, perhaps the only one not to have benefited from this team unity was Elisa Longo Borghini, who saw her husband come home with an unexpected haircut...
Maybe so, but Elisa has been with us for several years, so she understands well what it means to be part of a group like this, something that goes beyond the performance. The most beautiful image of this Giro, not by chance, is when everyone waited for Giulio Ciccone on the day of his fall.A gesture that is worth more than victories, because we are all professionals, but for us the human aspect matters even more.
