Bertizzolo awakens: victory and clear words. Very clear…

"I dedicate this victory to myself. The next one will be for someone else." Sofia Bertizzolo holds on to her first elite victory in the UCI calendarThe 24-year-old Liv Racing Cycling Team Friday, October 15th at Grand Champ in Brittany He won La Classique Morbihan solo with a counterattack 9" ahead of the chasing group, which was then overtaken by Valentin Fortin (St. Michel Auber 93) and Chiara Consonni (Valcar Travel & Service). Bertizzolo had actually already achieved successes in the top category, but they were Italian open races. The last one was on September 5th of last year in Villa Musone in the second stage of the Giro delle Marche in RosaShe had won the first two (Gold Trophy in Euro and Valeria Cappellotto Memorial) in 2016, in her first year as an elite team.

Twenty-four hours into the Grand Prix du Morbihan, a sort of rematch held on the roads of Brittany, won by Consonni ahead of Kool and Zanardi, the girl from Bassano del Grappa worked hard for her teammate Lotte Kopecky, who finished fourth.

In short, a nice way for her to leave the Dutch lineup given that he has signed for two seasons – even if it is not yet official – with Alè Btc Ljubljana, and in turn will be acquiredlocated (with the transfer of the WorldTour license) fromUAE Team EmiratesAnd Bertizzolo's season isn't over yet: on 22 and 23 October in Holland she will race both the Drentse Acht van Westerveld and the Ronde Van Drenthe, last race of the Women's cycling World Tour.

Sofia, tell us about these two races and above all this victory.

Do you reckon GOD MODE (ep.XNUMX) I didn't even have to do themOn Friday, we were perfect. We never suffered the race; in fact, we dominated it. There were about twenty of us in the final stages, and we had planned an attack on my part to allow Lotte (Kopecky, her teammate, ed.) to stay covered for the final sprint. Just before the last kilometer the road went uphill and I started off strongThey looked at each other, I went straight ahead and they didn't hit me. It was a perfect tactic. At least once it goes well, because yesterday instead…

How did it go?

Meanwhile We left very early because there was the men's race, so much so that at the beginning there was even fogThere were four of us, like the day before, but one of our companions had some problems. and there are only two of us left working for LotteIt was tough. We suffered, and fourth place doesn't satisfy us.

Why shouldn't you have run them?

After the Tour of Britain I was supposed to do the last two in Holland, but just In Great Britain my partner Jeanne Korevaar fell and broke her shoulder, so they called me up at the last minute.Let's say it went well... 

Are you ready for a new adventure in the next two years? First, tell us about these last two years with Liv. How did they go?

There were one and a half in the end. And they were tumultuous, as I think for everyone.I worked hard for my teammates, especially Vos last year and Kopecky this year. However, Covid has left me with a trail that is paradoxically more severe this year than last year.I know. In 2020, I struggled physically because I couldn't find the right pedal stroke. This year, I'm better, but my plans and expectations were affected and therefore not met.

Positive and negative notes?

Among the negatives I only mention Covid, because then my sincerity can get me into trouble (laughs, ed.) Among the positive ones I would say having met Marianne Vos. I'm happy about this, It's something I'll always carry with me. As a cyclist, she's pure class, a quality that Mother Nature gave her.Maybe she's not very good at teaching you, because I don't think she even knows how to do certain things. It's innate talent. You just have to be good at looking at her and stealing something from herOn a human level, he's even better. Are you familiar with his track record? An outsider might expect him to be an unapproachable or haughty star. Instead, she's a great person. Humble, kind, sociable, a team player, always interested in her teammates, and grateful..

So what are the positive and negative aspects of your sincerity?

Is there no reserve demand? Jokes aside, I have this character, I say what I think and sometimes it can be a problem. But I received a lot of messages celebrating my victory. Both teammates and opponents congratulated me. Perhaps in the end, this quality of mine, my sincerity, is appreciated... 

Let's take a leap into the future with the next team. An important project, born in the last few days. What do you know?

Honestly, not so much, or at least certain aspects haven't been confirmed yet. However I'm leaving with high morale because the victory came at the right time.. In fact, I'm glad that the season has come to an end, so I can finish on a high note and face the winter with a clear mind.

What do you expect from a competitive point of view?

At the end of the summer I had decided to go away and possibly return to Italy because I wanted a team that would give me a little more spaceI'd like to be more confident. I'm not a sprinter or a climber, so I'd also like to test my skills on hilly routes suited to my abilities, perhaps with the help of my teammates. I have helped often, let's say that I have not always been helped in return.

Tell us what kind of rider you are.

When I passed elite, I thought I was suited to stage races, then I reinvented myself in the classics or one-day races. Actually I have to and want to improve at time trials Because there are so many small stage races that always have a time trial that decides the overall standings. Let's just say I see myself as a good candidate for this type of race.

As a junior, you were incredibly strong (European and Italian champion, and rider-up in the 2014 World Championships, ed.), and in 2019, you finished fourth at the Tour of Flanders, playing a crucial role in Bastianelli's victory. When will we see you at this level again?

I hope soon. I'm still young but I feel more experienced (Sofia was born on August 21, 1997, ed.), next year will be my seventh as an elite and I feel I can improve. So far I have certainly been more satisfied with my performance than with my results. Of course, it's great to know that your work is behind a teammate's victory, but if you don't win, you risk losing that connection that can help you. Winning helps you win.

Finally, what is your relationship with the national team?

First of all it must be said that the national team is coach Salvoldi, because he is the one who really takes care of everything and takes all the responsibility, for better or for worseAnd he deserves credit for that. Of course, this can be a positive or negative thing, but you certainly know that he's the only person you have, no intermediaries. Having said that, I would prefer there to be better communication for the races in blueNow, even women's cycling is a matter of planning. The season is divided into two, the first until June and the second for the finale. Aside from our strongest Italian riders, Knowing the call-ups in advance would be a good thing. We couldor better set up the year and training sessions.