Jay wine He set a precedent. The story of the Australian, who emerged thanks to the virtual platform Zwift until being hired by theAlpecin Deceuninck and emerging in 2022 with two Vuelta victories as the icing on the cake, has pushed many other enthusiasts to try their luck using trainers and apps, to impress team managers. Michael, for example, succeeded. Vink, a New Zealander with a good past in cycling (he was also national champion) but who found employment atUAE Team Emirates thanks to its performance recorded by the platform MyWhoosh. And Luca Vergallito wants to try too.
To introduce it, we need to start from a background: the story of Vine has made such an impression that Alpecin and Zwift have decided to "institutionalize" it, in the sense that a competition was announced with a contract to Alpecin Deceuninck as a prize (and one to Canyon Sram for girls). Over 160,000 enthusiasts from every corner of the world have signed up, and now there are only five left. And Vergallito is there…
A past as a cyclist
A twenty-five-year-old from Milan, Vergallito also has a cycling past, but it seems rather distant: «I started cycling as a kid to spend time with my family. We went for long walks and it was fun, but I wasn't thinking about competitiveness. Also because I was more into athletics and triathlon, the bike was just enough for multidisciplinary sports. But it took time and dedication, and honestly, at a certain point, I got a bit tired. So I dedicated myself solely to cycling.
What category were you?
I was already a junior, I spent a year and a half with Team Giorgi. Then I went under 23 with the Named Sport Kemo andOverall, but I wasn't getting results, I wasn't standing out, in the meantime I was concentrating more and more on studying, so I didn't progress any further. I was enrolled in Sports Science, but I hadn't given up cycling, I liked training and on top of that I was also interested in it from a study point of view because I was already intending to pursue a career as a trainer.
Have you not done anything competitively anymore?
Not since 2017, but then during the pandemic I saw that cycling was all the rage, and I dusted off mine too, starting to apply myself a little more precisely because there was this great desire to get out in such a different context. I started as an amateur and then I thought about signing up for some Granfondo. The results came immediately, but at the same time I was also cycling at home, training with Zwift.
How did you do in the granfondo?
I signed up for the team Om.Cc winning the GF Sestriere-Colle delle Finestre for two years in a row. Last year I won the Fausto Coppi and the Re Stelvio, this year I also triumphed in the GF of New York and recently in the middle of the Tre Valli Varesine. All of this also helped me for the competition, but I realize that compared to many other amateurs, I have an advantage in having more time to train: those with a steady job have to carve out time, and it's not easy. I, on the other hand, often have mornings free, and it's ideal for training, almost as if I were a true professional.
You said it was useful for the competition: to what extent?
The formula of the competition is quite simple: Meanwhile, anyone can sign up and I was quite intrigued, so I thought I'd give it a try. The app records everyone's results through a series of scheduled workouts: 4 where maximum effort is required, 6 where non-maximum effort is required. The coaches then proceed to an initial screening based on the best results. The remaining candidates (and there are already very few) are contacted. Sending material is required, from one's CV (and here the results in the Granfondos were useful to me, as well as my youthful competitive past because it counted regardless of the results) to some training data. At that point, 16 of each gender remained, then a further screening was carried out and we were left with 5.
How much do you use Zwift?
A lot in winter, then less so. Clearly, in bad weather or for those who work, it's a great convenience, it has a certain appeal, and it allows you to do intense workouts even at home. But when the weather is nice, the desire to go out and ride a bike is stronger.
Did you know about Zwift Academy?
I had already heard about it last year but I hadn't applied myself in any particular wayThen I was called up to Team Italy, I took part in a few virtual events, I liked the idea and I dedicated myself to it more assiduously.
Did you know the story of Jay Vine?
Yes and I like it very much, I admire him a lot and follow him, I really hope to meet him at the final.
So, tell us about what's going to happen in the contest now...
We're going to the first Alpecin retreat, it will last a week. We'll have a couple of days to get used to the setup, also to get to know the guys and the structure, then there will be days with alternating tests on Zwift and on the road, also training with the pros. Ultimately, the team's executives will review the results and decide which of the five finalists to offer a contract to, I don't know if it's for the main team or the Development team. The interested party won't be informed immediately; I believe there will be an official announcement, especially since the competition is widely followed through videos and official stages, so I'm not yet sure what the final outcome will be.
Do you hope to be there, that is, to be the chosen one?
At this point, yes, but I don't ask myself questions about who I'll have to face, I focus on myself, on doing my things well. Let's say I'd like to reconnect with my past.
