His job certainly requires a lot of professional preparation and, why not, even physical preparation. A few moments after the end of a classic or a stage of a grand tour, Andrea Berton must be in the right place at the right time to intercept and chase the first lines of the protagonists. Even a short while ago in El Ferral Larra Belagua, finish line of the tenth stage of the La Vuelta (won by Jay Vine and with Jonas Vingegaard back in the lead), did exactly that, but not only that.
The Milanese journalist's resume is worthy of a great rider's list of achievements. His voice filled many cycling fans' afternoons during his commentary on Eurosport Italia until 2014, then has changed roles within the Warner Bros. Discovery networkFor ten years, Berton's duties have taken on a much more international scope, becoming an English-speaking "on-site reporter" covering the races. And so, seeing him always in the thick of the post-action, we wanted to delve deeper into the topic, trying to find out difficulties, advantages or anecdotes from your most recent work experienceThere's also room for a little, great lesson for those who would like to pursue a career like his.
Andrea, can we try to explain your work better?
Sure. I'm busy. both before the departure and after the arrival of the stage with interviewsIn the morning, we gauge the moods and feelings of the athletes and sports directors. Essentially, however, I can say that the most challenging part is after the finish. For some time now, Eurosport has been asking for "instant reactions," that is, the riders' first impressions.
What is it about?
First of all, we must respect a television area well after the finish line. We position ourselves where we know the riders can stop, more or less where the masseurs are waiting for them. Then we try to go to immediately hear the winner's companions or those riders who placed behind himBy regulation, we can't interview him or anyone else wearing the leader's jerseys in the various classifications. They all have to go through the international signal microphones first, so we're focusing on other protagonists.
What are your impressions, with a cool head, in those moments?
These are beautiful and intense moments for me. Maybe after a sprint finish, see up close the excitement of those who led out their captain who won the stage or the disappointment of those who were beatenOr in the mountain stages you can observe those who have just made a great effort.
Do you have any anecdotes to tell?
I still remember Dani Martinez last year at the end of the finish at Mottolino in LivignoHe sat against a barrier for almost four minutes, his head bowed, recovering from the fatigue. He was exhausted. Or, on the other hand, I've always been amazed by Pogacar's freshness after every effort, precisely because of his high level. For me, I repeat, and for anyone who does my job, it's a great privilege to experience these moments.
Just a quick aside, did Pogacar seem tired to you at the Tour, as has been said several times?
I wasn't in France this year, but I spoke to my colleagues about this. They told me they hadn't seen him look that stressed and that he could have won a few more stages. But I'll limit myself to their impressions.
What is your relationship with the riders like in the moments leading up to the race?
We assume that all the athletes' moments must be respectedBoth before the start when there can be a bit of tension because "you can feel the race", and after the finish line even when you go to talk to someone happy about the team's result. Every rider has his own character, so there is always someone who speaks more willingly and someone less.
Can we give some examples?
Without going too far back in time, I will limit myself to these first stages of the Vuelta. ciccone He's not someone who's very keen to talk, especially before a stage where he's one of the favouritesIf he doesn't come to the mixed zone, maybe he'll come by the next day, apologize, and do the interview. Instead there is the other Giulio, Pellizzari, who is much more talkative. He always has a quick wit and a smile, even when it's not been a great day. He never shies away from questions and often answers them to ease the tension. Or there's Edward Planckaert, Philipsen's pilot fish, who always tells you so much about the sprints that he almost makes you experience them.
Have you noticed any changes in the relationship between riders and journalists?
I can certainly say with confidence compared to the past, especially when I started doing this job thirty years ago now, that now the rider has a better ability and willingness to deal with the mediaNow they come looking for you for interviews. I'm talking about Italians and foreigners. You can see there's a lot of professionalism. In general, with a few exceptions, you find riders who are better prepared to speak, even when things are hot. And for that I have to thank them because they make my job easier.
What are the main challenges of your role?
I'd say logistics are the most complicated thing and make the day long. We're always both at the start and the finish, and basically, with the last post-race interview, our work for the day ends. Sometimes it's happened that... arriving late at the finish line because you encounter traffic or an accident or because there aren't many alternative routes to get thereI remember a stage of the Tour Femmes three years ago and a mountain race at last year's Giro d'Italia. However, we always managed to get there in time before the finish line.
Can this affect your work performance?
When we're on the move, we don't always have a strong signal on our cell phones or other devices to stream the stage, so this can limit us. Seeing how the race went helps you in interviews or considerationsHowever, sometimes I have to ask questions in the dark, precisely because of what I mentioned at the beginning. Being positioned far from the finish line and the big screen, and not always being able to watch the finale on our phones, partly due to the excitement and partly because it's delayed, we have to rely on the riders' words. To avoid making mistakes in those circumstances, especially after a sprint, I ask, "How was the finale?" and the athlete tells you everything.
How important is it to know about cycling, especially in post-arrival interviews?
Certainly a lot. I think that it is our duty to arrive prepared and know everything about the riders, including curiosities in addition to the results. You have to stay on top of things, stay up-to-date. It's part of our job. But not everyone considers that this work can't be done alone.
What are you referring to?
It's true that I do the interviews, but if you don't have a cameraman who follows you and understands your moves in advance, then you don't do much. In fact, in this regard I would like to thank Phil Bryden who I have been working with for a long time. (Photo by Julian Verlay in the opening line.) He's a great cycling expert, even more so than I am, and we really understand each other with just a glance.
Speaking of preparation, does Andrea Berton still have that USB stick containing all the riders' info?
Yes, of course (he replies smiling, ed.). When I was doing the commentary, there weren't any websites like there are now where you can find all the results, so I created a database on a USB stick where I listed the placings and interesting facts. I used to attach it to my computer and consult it in real time when needed.Now I've transferred everything to the cloud and I can even view it on my phone. We already know a lot of things and remember them, especially if you've seen them live. But in our work, to be prepared, you must never stop studying and always have a passion for what you do.
