Three stage wins and two weeks as absolute protagonists. Alexander Vinokurov tells us about the Tour of Italy of XDS-Astana Team. The team manager takes stock and also focuses on his riders, among the race's key players. Vinokurov's emotions didn't end at the finish line in the Circus Maximus, but continued the next day in the Vatican, where he was received by Pope Leo XIV.
While another part of the team is up high preparing the Tour de France, where we will see Lorenzo Fortunato and companions, here are the words of Vinokurov, who came to Rome to embrace his boys at the end of the Giro d'Italia.
Wine, a nice Giro, we could say. Do you agree?
Yes, a perfect Giro. We won three stages with three different riders. And we also wore the pink jersey for two days. At least for the first two weeks, we fought hard and were the protagonists. Then we struggled more.
But it's also true that you had built a team with certain characteristics, certainly not for the climbs, which were almost all concentrated in the third week. And on top of that, you lost Scaroni, who perhaps could have done something...
Yes, this is also true. We came with an attacking team and not for the standings. Scaroni he did his best. Even on the day he won, Arrieta was ahead, he tried, he showed great desire. We're really happy with Scaroni. He's made great progress since last year, or rather since he's been with us. Christian has shown that he can compete with the biggest names in the sport, not just the smaller ones. I'm disappointed because he could have done well in the last week too. But that's how it went. Now he'll get some rest and then prepare for the second half of the season.
Let's start from the first success...
William Silva it was a nice surpriseThat day, Scaroni made the perfect leadout, and things went as they did. It was great to see him win. He's growing and maturing. He hasn't felt the jump to the WorldTour too much. Credit also goes to his teammates and the environment he's found.
Davide Ballerini...
I'm happy for him. Ballero deserved this success. He's a great man for the team. He's back to winning, and I hope he continues.
And the third XDS-Astana winner was Alberto Bettiol. You always told us you expected a lot from him…
Alberto confirmed that he has talent.If he wants, he can get results: I've told him that many times. Now he must continue along this line.
And how will you make it more consistent?
I often talk to him about this aspect. Bettiol He has the engine to perform well in major races. With his skills, he can't have only nine career victories. It's true that these are important wins, but he can achieve much more. Now he'll work towards the second half of the season. I don't know his schedule well, I know he'll restart from the Gippingen GP, but in quotes, he's almost obligated to win for someone like him.
Let's move on to Ulissi. Diego himself told us that when he's in the group, there has to be harmony. You've also run, how do you see it? Do you also notice a difference in the boys' behavior?
When you have a player with a lot of experience on the team, not old but with an important career behind him, it's essential for the young players. Let's look at Silva himself, in his first year in the WorldTour, or at Scaroni's growth. Diego helps and can still go fast. Now we'll see what happens.
What are you referring to?
Whether he wants to keep running or not. That's important. If he decides to move on, there's a place for him. Of course, we'll see at what price! Like Nibali, Ulissi came here not just for the pleasure of it, but also to get a result. And Ulissi did well. But for now, it's best to leave him alone. He needs to talk to his family and decide what to do first.We'll talk about it later, eventually.
Alex, we've talked many times about Astana, which, after the brink of relegation from the WorldTour two years ago, has risen again. What is the soul of your team now? As a former rider, what do you see?
Recovering mentally wasn't easy either. In 2019, we were the fifth-ranked team in the world. After Covid, we went through dark years, with many problems. Then we found again that famous Tour victory with Cavendish And, little by little, we got back on our feet. We raced hard for points, which were the priority. Now we're back to racing for victories, and the points come as a consequence. Since Cav's thirty-fifth Tour victory, we've started to think about more than just points. But I also want to say something else.
Please…
That this alchemy, this transformation, depends not only on the riders, but on the entire team. I'm thinking of the trainers, the sports directors, the mechanics, the masseurs: everyone. It is the joint work of all of us that has lifted us up, not just the well-done work of a single sector. But it took two or three years. We're also working well with young people. Our I have to team up It is first in its category in terms of performance and this is important for the future. Especially because, Compared to other teams, we don't have a big budget, but we do our best with our values and capabilities. The materials are also good. Without XDS's support, we would already be out of business.
