Mattia's first time has the flavour of a return

There is a feeling of first time for some Italians in the Tour. And if it is the first taste for Davide Ballerini, with whom we spoke just yesterday, you don't have to go too far to realize that also Mattia Cattaneo, equally at home Deceuninck-Quick Step, I have absolutely no idea what I'm getting into.

Theirs are two different profiles. If the first, due to his technical characteristics, could become a true Tour animal, a stage hunter with all the trimmings, the Bergamo native (in the opening photo Wout Beel) is on the threshold of self-rediscovery and he's starting from Brest in support of Alaphilippe. That said, if an Italian could have been identified in the past with the technical skills to do well at the Tour, Mattia was certainly one of the most likely candidates. Strong on regular climbs, strong in time trials, third at the Tour de l'Avenir, capable of winning stage races – the Giro delle Pesche Nettarine and the Giro d'Italia U23 – since I was twenty.

«It may seem strange to say this – he says – but In my first four years, I didn't run much. I still have to mature, and I hope that now I'll finally have some good years.It's not all bad, I've still had my experiences, even if not in optimal conditions. Sometimes life doesn't go the way you want it to., but you have to keep moving forward and maintain your optimism."

Going down to go back up

Actually, we were talking about Mattia Cattaneo yesterday. with his agent Massimiliano MoriIt was he, realizing that the Lampre-Merida environment (about to become Uae Team Emirates) was no longer suitable for him, who suggested him to leave the WorldTour to find the motivation and desire for AndroniThe operation went well, not so much in terms of victories as in terms of consistency. He won the 2019 Giro dell'Appennino, Mattia put together a series of very promising placings which in 2020 reopened the doors of the World Tour for him., with superior self-awareness and the Deceuninck-Quick Step jersey.

«Coming to this team – he explains – made me return to high and above all constant levelsWhen they contacted me, I immediately told my agent to accept. The group matters a lot, for the people and everything related to preparation and materials. I'm here to help Alaphilippe and maybe try to get into some breakaways, because I'm doing well anyway. My third place in the Italian time trial championship proves it and I'm satisfied. It was the first time I tried to prepare for him and it won't be the last."

An important step

The season so far is only a small step forward because, as he said on the eve of the Giro, some of the programs were cancelled due to Covid and the replacements that had to be made. However, the sign of the turning point had already been seen in 2020, when in a Vuelta from which he had little to expect, he broke away several times, took seventh place in the uphill finish at Aramon Formigal and seventh in the time trial with uphill finish at Mirador de Ezaro. If you don't have good numbers, you don't do certain things in November..

«And so I arrived at the first Tour – he says and smiles – a race I've always heard about, but never taken part inI think that to feel good in it, you need to have very specific goals, because then it shows if you have the legs. I hope and I'm sure that for me it will be a very important step. Even if it means pushing for a long time, that's fine too. I have good feelings and I'm super excited after always racing the Giro and the Vuelta. I don't know what makes the Tour so special, but a stage here can definitely change your career.».