His name is the state of mind with which a week ago he shared on his social media profiles the official confirmation of a piece of news that had been in the air since the beginning of the year. Starting with the 2023 Gaia Realini will run for the Trek-Segafredo. And the 21-year-old from Pescara has every right to be happy about this transfer, considering her three-year contract.
«When you come to races like the Giro Donne – he told us Luca Guercilena, the general manager of the American WorldTour team, in Reggio Emilia at the end of the fifth stage – they don't just look at their own athletes, but also evaluate others to include in the roster for the following years. Gaia is still very young and has a lot of experience to gain, however When we saw her in action last year we thought we would like to work with her. We want to help her grow."
The climber now in the team Isolmant-Premac-Vittoria will join the Italian American team, in which she will find Balsamo e Longo Borghini (and, according to rumors, most likely Ilaria Sanguineti too) to do the honors. However Realini remains focused on her current team, with which she is competing in the Giro di Toscana (from today until August 28th).
Gaia, first of all, what are your goals these days?
lately We have achieved good results in open competitions, we always get noticedOn August 15th we won with Rossato In Vittorio Veneto, I finished fourth, just like in Tarzo. Then last Sunday, we won with Zanetti in Noventa di Piave, his third win of the season.Here in Tuscany we will try to do well in the flat stagesI'm here to work for the team, even if the Montecatini Terme area is suitable for my characteristics.
We can finally talk about your transition. How does it feel?
Obviously, I'm very pleased, I'm happy. Considering that our team has always had a more limited schedule at the international level, I've always tried to do my best and show off. The last two Giro Donne were the most important showcasesLast year I caught the attention of Trek-Segafredo and that's where it all started. However I have to thank at least a billion times John Fidanza (the Isolmant team manager, ed.) and the rest of the company for giving me the opportunity to play my cards. Without them, I wouldn't have made it.
This move will also be a lifestyle choice. What did Fidanza and your parents tell you?
John is very proud of my passageIf we think that from such a small team in the last few years, three of us, between his daughters and me, have ended up in the WorldTour or in bigger teams, I think it is a nice recognition of one's workMy parents are happy too. For them, who used to take me to races when I started racing in G1, it's a great satisfaction to see me on a major team like Trek-Segafredo.
What do you expect from next year?
I will try to enjoy every moment of my next adventure. For me it will all be new and stimulatingI'm ready to be away from home a lot longer. I knew what I was getting into, and so does my family. I know that I'm joining a great group and honestly it reassures me to know that I'll find two Italian companions who will help me integrate into the team. In any case, for about six months now I started taking English lessons to improve my academic levelI'm reading books and magazines, watching movies in English to get used to it and be ready. Of course, I don't speak much English at the moment...
By the way, on the penultimate stage of the Giro Donne, you rode a long breakaway with Faulkner. Was that a chance to test your English?
No no, I was full of excitement and who knows what I could have said to her (laughs, ed.). Jokes aside, we were focused and spoke little, but we have always understood each other with a few words and a few nods.
Just curious. At the start of the seventh stage, sitting in your camper, we saw you with a Trek-Segafredo musette next to you. Did you have it for a particular reason?
No, look, it was just a coincidence. The day before, on the stage that reached Bergamo, while we were busy in the supply area, one of our masseurs picked up their bag thrown away by one of their girlsSo the next morning he gave it to me, knowing where I was going running. A sort of early gift (smiles, ed.).
What will you do with cyclocross?
In 2023 I will start a new chapter in my career and at the moment I decided to put cyclocross asideIt was my choice. On the one hand, I'm sorry because it's a discipline I care about. On the other hand, I'm not, because By focusing only on the road I have more time to improve. When I signed with Trek I had informed the Guerciotti (Paolo and Alessandro, respectively father and son, owners of the company and managers of the team, ed.) that this possibility would have existed. They are sorry, as am I of course, but they understood and respected my decision.
In the meantime, have you had any contact with your future staff?
At the moment only with the press office for the ritual statements. Al Giro Donne instead, especially in the last few sections, we found ourselves with glances. Someone at the finish line or at the start gave me a nod for my good performance, but nothing more. Apart from that, I didn't hear from anyone. I rightly believe that they don't want to distract me from my commitments with IsolmantWe'll have time to talk later.
And what about your future teammates? For example, in the mountain stages of the Giro, you were often in the breakaway or alongside Longo Borghini.
No, not even with them. In fact, at the Giro I wouldn't have known what to say to them. If I think about the champions that she or Balsamo are, I'm really very smallIt's right that there's a bit of awe. For example, at the end of the ninth stage, I found myself pulling with Longo Borghini. She, who was chasing third place on the podium, asked me if I would give her a hand. I did it as long as I could, but by then I was running out of energy because I'd been scouting for many kilometers. I'm sorry I couldn't help her more. But from next year I can't wait to be at your complete disposal..
