And here is Dario Cataldo, increasingly at full capacity in his new role. From sporting director in the race to sporting director in the flagship, that of XDS-Astana. The Abruzzese returned to the team that probably shaped his career the most. Aru, Nibali, and many other strong riders were part of that group, and he was there. And he was a role model.
With Dario we retrace these first months "on the other side of the fence". An approach taken, as is his wont, with determination, passion, and competence.
Dario, you're the sporting director. How have these first few months been? When you didn't resume training in November...
Oh yes, it's strange not to say it, but in the end this moment has arrived. The fact that, As soon as the season ended, I was already busy with commitments with XDS-Astana which made me immediately focus on other needs, So I was already here in my head, and I didn't suffer too much from the separation. Plus, the tasks I would have to perform as director were things I'd been thinking about for some time.
What do you mean?
Even as a rider, I always asked myself questions about the staff, trying to put myself in other people's shoes. Interpret the situation of the person in front of you to understand their needs and fit them with your own. I put myself in the shoes of the masseur who wakes up at 5 a.m. to do all the myriad tasks he has to do. And massage is almost the least of them. It's thought that the director has absolute control over everything a rider does, but it's not that simple. Perhaps more so than the coach. And in fact, the sports director often interacts with the coach. In short, I tried to switch immediately.
But it's not easy to apply everything at once...
You don't know 100 percent what you're going to do, but until you dive into it… Well, Practice is needed. Any school is not enough. I did my first races in Spain, then in Oman, which is a unique experience because you're not using the team's vehicles, but the organization's. Therefore, the logistics are very specific, the number of staff is very limited, and everything has to fit together. I can say it was a learning experience.
Who did you partner with in these first races?
Ad Alexandre SheferHe was my director when I was a rider here at Astana. We know each other well.
Of the various sports director roles, which came most naturally to you?
Being in the team car. Ultimately, it's almost an extension of what you already do as a racer.
And you were a road captain, as they say these days. The director, the director on the run...
Exactly. Analyzing the race, anticipating what's going to happen tactically with the other teams, the wind, the weather, the route, the leader's needs... I started to deal with all these dynamics from a different perspective. What makes it a bit difficult for me is that as a rider you're there. You see what's happening in the race in real time: opponents, team movements, you know what the wind is like, you see how your captain pedals. Instead In the flagship you see practically nothing and not immediately. You have to rely on interpretation, on what the race radio says or what your riders tell you. And now, as a sports director, I realize how important and crucial it is to have a good road captain, a trusted, responsible person who is there at the moment, knows how to make decisions and maintain communication with the team car.
Speaking of roles, Dario, until a few months ago you were shoulder to shoulder with many of your athletes. How do you manage? Authority, authority...
I don't think it's a question of authority or prestige. If you start from these assumptions, in my opinion, you're already making a mistake. You know you're dealing with experienced athletes who can understand. Dialogue becomes essential. Establishing that relationship of trust is the foundation. So it's not about authority, but about collaboration. And for now, it seems to me that this collaboration is being recognized. Then maybe I'll make mistakes too, that's normal. The important thing is to be honest on both sides, to talk...
An example of success or some problem you discussed post-race?
Yes, there were times when tactically we could have done better. We had to point this out to the riders. And we did. First, I listened to feedback from all the riders individually. Then we all sat down together. What we... What I want to make clear is that when you point out a mistake, it's not a punishment, but a way to try to improve. in view of the next times.
In this fast-paced cycling world, how important is it to be fresh in the peloton? A young sports director isn't far removed from the real cycling; he's not stuck in old dynamics. Let me be clear, this isn't a criticism of more mature sports directors, but it's clear that many things have changed...
A lot of things have changed and being new to the group, as you say, really counts for a lot. Even as a rider, I realized that sometimes, when analyzing a race with the directors, especially recently, it was necessary to highlight certain aspects. I said, "Look, it's not like this anymore. It's not like it used to be." It was important to remember that, in concrete terms, all the ways of interpreting running have changed. Since the way we eat has changed, the distribution of energy has changed, and consequently, everything has changed.
And this is exactly where we wanted to get to…
Let me give you a simple example. Before, there was a breakaway, and you knew the situation was under control. Two, three, five athletes… you knew they wouldn't arrive, and you shouldn't kill yourself pulling, because they'd "get back on their own." Once the race stabilized, I started doing my calculations, and on average, we knew we could make up a minute every 10 kilometers. Every five kilometers, you made a projection and knew whether you needed to speed up or slow down. Now it's a problem to close on the breakaway and, depending on who is there, it's almost impossible. In short, if the breakaway takes you 10 minutes today, you won't catch up. So, to wrap things up, having these fresh impressions allows you to better understand the riders and put yourself in their shoes.
Who are your role models?
Ho Fortunato, Schelling, Kajamini e Toneatti.
Let's move on to Dario the man: how has your daily life changed?
I'm quite busy with work right now, I have a lot of new things to do and they're taking up more of my time. Preparing the race files from VeloViewer, the various meetings, the contacts with the kids… I'm building a new daily life.
So no bikes?
I didn't touch my bike for two months because I had femur surgery and I forced myself to. The bone was still fragile, and I didn't want to risk anything. I go to the gym a bit, do some jogging so I don't gain weight like a ball. Even though they said to me, "Oh Dario, you finally seem like a normal person!" After all, you've been on a diet since you were a kid. Although I must say I did go for a run recently. Two outings to feel the wind in your face again.
