The perfect sprint pulled out of the hat. It would be an understatement to just dismiss the victory like this. Filippo Zana of the Italian championship. The rider of the Bardiani Csf Faizanè begins to give continuity to the good results.
He won the tricolour, he came from success at the Adriatica Ionica Race And even before that, he was one of the heroes of Leuven and third in the Tour de l'Avenir. So many signs of growth that warrant a closer look at this young man from Veneto. Let's get to know him better in ten points... plus one.
Child on a bike
«I started when I was six, from G1. I got on my bike because a family friend, Joseph Zilio, he saw me riding my bike in front of the pub that my parents had It rains Rocchette. I was riding too much! So he took me to the cycling school of the same name.
«Giuseppe is now fighting ALS and I believe these successes are partly thanks to him. I'm pretty sure he watched the race on TV, because I know he has his TV set fixed to the sports channel."
The first race
Starting early may give you a certain awareness, a feeling for certain group movements. You might think everything comes easily, but that's actually not the case.
«I remember the first race very well – continues the new Italian champion – I was first. At 200 meters when I saw the finish line I practically stopped, I said: I've arrived anyway. And the kid who was behind me passed me. His name was Thomas Bizzato.
«If I remember correctly, he stopped when he was a student and up until that category we often met at competitions, since we were all from the area anyway».
experience
So he gained experience through slaps right from the start.
«I learned that you have to pedal until one meter after the finish line! When I was little, I felt a lot of tension. I don't remember much about the eve of that first race, but I remember that I often threw up because I was so nervous."
And this was also an important lesson. A significant milestone in an athlete's career that Zana had been focusing on for quite some time. She acquired it in an unusual way.
The pro contract
Filippo grows. The fear before competitions fades. Maturity and awareness gradually take over as he becomes a young man.
«I signed the pro contract at the Bardiani headquarters in Reggio Emilia. I was also with Fabio MazzuccoMy attorney accompanied me, Moreno Nicoletti.
«I moved up at the end of my second year as an under 23, but Bardiani had contacted me already at the end of the first year and I signed immediately. The following year I won Capodarco and finished third at Poggiana. I think signing made me feel more relaxed and helped me perform better."
The debut
From his first G1 competition to his professional career, 15 years and many centimeters have passed since he became a professional. Filippo stands at 1,85 meters tall.
«We were in Mallorca. It wasn't a great debut, to be honest. I was sick. I was supposed to do two races and I did one. It was really tough. At the end I wondered how they could go so fast. I was scared. But over time I got used to that pace."
«Valverde he came second and won Soler and it was special to find myself side by side with him and with those champions that until that moment I had only seen on TV. If Valverde passed me there was a sense of respect and I let him pass... but he would have slipped in anyway!
The sprint
Zana is a climber and the other day he won the sprint. What does a sprint mean to him?
«I think I did my best sprint ever "—says Filippo—and I think it was because it came after so many kilometers and so much heat. It was a sprint that went beyond who was the fastest. But I definitely still prefer the climbs... because I've always lost in sprints!"
"What is a sprint to me? It's grinding, shoving, and making that final push to win. In a sprint, I try to be careful. I get a little scared when the sprinters start shoving each other left and right: too much confusion for my taste."
The climb
"The climb is where you see who's truly strong. If you don't have any, you struggle. And that's where the selection comes into play. When I'm going uphill I think about my leg pain, to the effort I'm making and that I want to go faster and faster to suffer less.
«And the time I suffered the most was at the Valenciana. I usually don't remember names very well, but I remember that climb very well: it was the Sierra de Bernia. It was my first year, my condition wasn't at its best and the climb was long. It was a mix of pain and fatigue that I still remember today. I was really at full speed."
Victory
"Victory is the reward for all the sacrifices, work, and effort. It's a great feeling. Especially after the Italian's victory."
When you win and there's a jersey that represents a title at stake, you don't just win that day. You conquer a victory that is somehow renewed every time that we are running.
«How much does Philip change? I still don't realize. But I can say that I want to do well, that it is a responsibility and for this reason If I gave 100% before, now I'll have to give 120%. I'm training harder and being in top condition for every race. The Italian flag is important, and I hope to be able to show it off at my best around the world.
«It's a great satisfaction. If we want there was also a bit of anger because the Tour of Italy it didn't go as I hoped. But this encouraged me to work harder and harder to seek redemption."
Life as a rider
“When you have to reach your ideal weight it's a bit tough,” Zana continues, “but when you're there you can also allow yourself a few indulgences. Weight doesn't have to be an obsession. At least for me, it's not. If it's always a burden... something's wrong. These sacrifices don't weigh on me, otherwise I wouldn't be here. These are sacrifices I am happy to make because they are part of my job.
"Sure, sometimes it would be nice to go out or to the beach, but then when you achieve your goals you say: damn, it all served some purpose."
Continuity
Zana has a special relationship with the Giro d'Italia. He's 23, having turned 23 in March, and he's already got three under his belt. The first was in October. He was thrown into the mix almost unexpectedly. And he's been running a lot ever since.
«I feel that this is the right path. It's nice to be a protagonist all year round. For example, after the Giro, I was always at the front, and that made me happy. At the beginning of the season, I struggled to stay in the top 20, and I wasn't happy. All in all, I've improved over the years and managed to be almost always competitive."
The dream
And then there's another point. One that has nothing to do with the past or technical aspects. Filippo Zana, a climber from Piovene Rocchette, Vicenza, is a professional and an Italian champion., many goals to achieve and some dreams to realize.
«Dreams? I made one. The other is called the pink jersey. I know it's hard. But you have to dream big."
