Like a small garden that gives good products for a large market, la Isolmant Premac Vittoria prepares for 2023 by redoubling its efforts and without its best gems. The continental team directed by John Fidanza will also have a junior lineup, in the name of the youth sector, while the first team will restart without Gaia Realini and Emanuela Zanetti, both authors of three seasonal victories.
The little climber from Abruzzo, as is known, has moved on to Trek-Segafredo with a three-year contract in her pocket, the sprinter from Brescia instead goes to Spain to join the Zaaf Cycling Team, but Fidanza already knows that next year some of its girls will be able to show off their skills properly.. Indeed, for some of them one could speak of a real gamble.
Giovanni, what kind of 2022 was it for Isolmant?
It's been a significant year. We started off so-so. We were impacted by several cases of Covid and by physical problems and various ailments. Along the way, however, the girls found compactness and continuity.Ours is an Italian calendar, between open races and all the international ones, but we are satisfied, considering our reality. In the end we achieved numerous placings and eight victories in total. Two of these, made with Rossato and Zontone, made me particularly happy because they rewarded their growth.
Will it be hard for you to no longer have Realini and Zanetti?
I was prepared for their departures. Indeed I'm happy that they can play their chances in stronger teams or abroad. It means we did a good job with them. Gaia has always been our strong point. She's done well to reaffirm her level, growing tactically and personally. This is the right time for her to make the leap. Emanuela was consistent in the order of arrival of the sprintsShe's about to embark on a new adventure, and the time had come for her to try something new.
Who are the girls you expect to see more success from?
There would be many, to be honest. Rossato He is a certainty for his availability towards the team and for how he reconciles cycling and workNext year she will be a tenured math teacher at a middle school in the Asiago area and may have more time to train than in past seasons. Zontone it was a nice surpriseShe comes from off-road and in 2023 I am convinced she will do even better. I'm counting a lot on Eremita, a climber with a good engine.If we can fix a couple of things, it will be crucial for us. Finally, the Spanish flu too. Ainara albert could have his say on certain routes.
Then there are the new arrivals…
Exactly, I expect good things from them too. Cipriani is an experienced girl who knows how to winBorello is coming off a good season. Papo is very young, she comes from cyclocross and can repeat the Zontone routeRaimondi and Pepoli (daughter of former pro Cristian, ed.) come from the juniors and will have to grow slowly. Then there will also be Valeria Curnis, who deserves a separate mention. She is a federal ski instructor but has a great passion for cycling.She was already with us last season, where she competed in a few races. She's taking things seriously, and her dedication can be an example for the younger ones. She's 28 years old, and she needs to learn to be in a group and other similar things, but I wanted to give her a real chance. It will be a great challenge for her.
How did the junior team come about?
It is the evolution of the collaboration that existed with Biesse-Carrera as a result of common sponsors such as Isolmant and Carrera itself. Team Zambelli had many students who were going through the junior ranks and, since we also had relationships with them, we joined forcesI will oversee the organization of both teams, but each will have its own staff. We'll evaluate our work at the end of the two years of the category, but we want to create a supply chain.
Basically, you'll all be going to the open races together. How important will this be?
A lot. From a social standpoint, it will be a great experience for the juniors, who will be able to compete against their older teammates and see how they prepare before a race. The elite will be a point of reference for our young players. However, they will have separate tactics during the race. The juniors will have to focus on their category to gradually grow. If one of them can keep up with the older ones, all the better for her and for us.
What goals have Fidanza and Isolmant set for 2023?
We want to confirm our standards on the Italian calendar, including international races. The Giro Donne will be the usual showcase, if we're invited. We have thoughtful and gradual goalsOur main task, however, remains to develop our athletes and then send them to foreign continental or WorldTour teams. We want to make the youngest understand how high the level of women's cycling currently is.. And therefore we want them to be able to fit properly into the top category. Our philosophy is always the same.
