Greta Marturano he's touching the sky with one fingerTwo months ago, his move abroad went almost unnoticed. Perhaps because Plantur-Pura was "only" a continental team with a strong focus on cyclocross. However, a few days ago the Belgian team obtained the WorldTour license and from 2023 it will be called Fenix-Deceuninck. To be clear, the women's team of Alpecin-Deceuninck of Van der Poel.
Not a bad move for the 24-year-old from Mariano Comense, who left Top Girls Fassa Bortolo after four seasons full of growth and resultsThe last of these, in chronological order, Marturano (opening photo PH Rosa) had placed it at the beginning of October with second place in the San Daniele del Friuli race after returning from a broken collarbone in August. The best way to say goodbye to Lucio Rigato's company and fully focus on the adventure that has just begun.
Greta, you told us to wait until this last week to hear from you. What happened in the meantime?
The first days with my future team awaited me. At the end of November we spent two days in Belgium, where we underwent medical checks at the hospital in Hasselt. Then we left Brussels for Valencia for a nine-day retreat in Benicassim., where there was also the men's team.
What impression did you get?
Of great professionalismThe visits in Belgium were more thorough than ever before. Stress tests, various tests, heart CT scans... Since no one said anything strange to me, I'd say everything went well (smiles, ed.). In Spain we were about fifteen (the roster will consist of twenty athletes, ed.) and we carried out differentiated tasks divided into two groups based on their characteristicsI was in the group with the most female climbers. The training route was the same for everyone. One group would set off first, then the other fifteen minutes later. And the team car was in the middle to assist us in any eventuality. It's nice to work like this.
How did you find it overall?
I won't deny that the first impression scared me. I was entering a new world with a new languageMind you, we speak English, not Flemish (she replies amusedly, ed.), but I need to get used to it. However, I jumped in to break the ice. I like their organization, they are schematic and preciseI'm like that too. Every evening they sent us the next day's schedule in great detail, with the activity times. From breakfast to evening debriefing, we knew what we had to do..
You'll be the only Italian, while the men's team includes Conci, Mareczko, Oldani, and Sbaragli. Did you get a chance to talk to them there?
We were staying in the same hotel, but we always stayed apart. Obviously, they had different schedules and different training itineraries. We were in the same room for breakfast and dinner, but always separated, only sharing the buffet tables. Sure, I bumped into them, and we only exchanged a few words. I must say, however, that I didn't ask him for any advice because I immediately understood that it is a good environment.In any case, I will have time to talk to you and get to know you better.
How does it feel to be on Van der Poel's team? Did you expect to make it to the WorldTour when you signed?
It's very strange when I think about it. He was also in Benicassim. I watched him when we were with the men's team. It's strange to even think about racing in the top categoryAt the time of the contract (two-year, ed.) I knew that there was the possibility of becoming WT, Ceratizit-WNT and AG Insurance-NXTG were also in the running, who perhaps had been chasing the license for longer. I don't know if the status of the men's team had an impact on our promotion, but now I find myself in it and I want to do the best I can.
What did your technicians tell you?
The Fenix-Deceuninck staff was fantastic to me. Every day they checked in on me. From what I have experienced so far I can say that we are treated the same as men. We are well supported by several athletic trainers. My and some other athletes will be Elliot LipskiHe is English but lives in Lucca where he worked with the group Qhubeka. Anyway, I'd say I made a good impression. In fact, I was very pleased with the words of our sports director Michel Cornelisse (Like Kris Wouters, ed.) He told me he appreciated my character, my precision, and even my boldness in how I faced training in the pouring rain without complaining too much. Hearing this from the coach who was leading the men's team until last year is a great source of pride and satisfaction for me..
How did it go with your classmates?
I already knew some of them by name, and that was it. I got to know them all because they're all very sociable. I'm quite shy at first, but then I let myself go. The ones I spoke to the most were Yara Kastelijn and Sophie WrightWith the first, especially in training, because having the same characteristics we were in the same group. And in fact we will do most of the same races. With the second instead because she was my roommate. But actually during training we made sure to be paired up with a different girl for 5/10 minutes to get to know each other better.
What will Greta Marturano's schedule be?
We have already established this in broad terms. I'll make my debut at the Valenciana, then I'll do Strade Bianche and Cittiglio. Up north, the intention is to race Flanders, Amstel, Freccia, and Liège.. All races I've never done. I should do a period of altitude in La Plagne, then the Tour of Switzerland and the Giro DonneWe will plan the second part later.
And what will the objectives be?
I aim to improve in everything. It's a dream for me to be in the WorldTour with Fenix-Deceuninck and it's a starting pointI know I can run differently and I want to learn it. We haven't talked about my role yet but there's no rush, we'll do it during the new retreat in Benicasim 20 30 from January toI want to get there ready and in good shape. My hope is to be able to achieve some satisfaction, both as a team player and as a person.
