The first pink jersey of the Tour of Italy of cyclocross belongs to Federico Ceolin and in some ways this is a surprise. In Tarvisio, the Venetian rider won a very complicated, long (10 laps), tough and uncertain race right up to the end. For Ceolin, achieving this is an achievement that goes beyond success, because unlike the others, since the cyclocross season ended, his competitive opportunities have been so few that they can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
The all-rounder of the bike
Cyclocross aside, Ceolin is a sort of all-rounder on the bike: he races on the road and on mountain bikes, and now also on gravel, but… «I have never raced on the road this year., except for the 2 Day Marchigiana. I prefer not to mention why, the important thing is that it's a closed chapter. Now to the Bibione Cycling Team I found the right environment to start again and make up for lost time."
A season lived above all through training because for Ceolin cycling is everything and the ambition to make it his job is always present, indeed now made even stronger by his desire for redemption: «Mentally, it's not easy to stay on track if you don't have short-term goals. It seems like training is useless, but I was lucky enough to have Enrico Licini, the trainer of the 4Performance which helped me stay focused, knowing that the winter season would arrive, the time for restarting. So I continued cycling... even without doing it."
The challenge with Pavan
It was a really tough time for the Venetian, but it didn't dampen his passion for road cycling: "I know very well how important it is, even for those like me who put cyclocross first. The preparation was mainly carried out there, also doing specific work that is done only with the race in mind. However, it helped me acquire a certain mentality: next year I plan to compete more on the road than on mountain bikes precisely because of the advantages it offers."
Returning to the Tarvisio race, it was a real unknown for him: «I had already competed in Switzerland where I had felt the effects of the long inactivity. The Tarvisio race was a beautiful one, one that never ended. Good for the public, but not so much for my legs… Pavan he launched the race in the first laps, I followed suit and then also FolcarelliAfter half the race Pavan launched another attack, I got back behind and then took off with three laps to go. I'm particularly happy because after a race like this I have more awareness of myself and of what I can do».
The importance of gravel
Ceolin, however, even if he didn't compete on the road, had already made his mark on gravel, taking part in the Italian championship and Monsterrato: «I took some historic beatings… Gravel is a whole different ballgame, it's almost like a road race but on a cyclocross bike. You start really strong, it's like being in a breakaway all day, applying enormous wattage. After the Monsterrato I was shocked, but I realized that it brings great benefits. I must say thanks to coach Pontoni, who, based on our mutual knowledge, allowed me to race the Monsterrato with the national team; it was very important for me."
With the pink jersey on, Ceolin now has to think about what to do for the rest of the season: "I'll definitely be at the next stage in Osoppo, then we'll evaluate. This year I'd like to raise the bar, compete in the World Cup, improve my ranking also to reach my goal which is to be called up for the European ChampionshipI will give everything for this, even if I know it's difficult."
No giving up on the road
The team is ready to support him, even though it won't be an easy task. Not so much in cyclo-cross, which, despite its evolution, remains an individual discipline, but on the road.
«I don't worry, – he says – I know that I'll have to run like a loose cannon, but at least I'll have the chance to participate in the regional trials, first being registered for a continental (theOverall Three Hills, ed.) I couldn't do it. Besides, in my case you don't need to be supported by a teamI'm not looking for any particular results, just the right path to prepare for cyclocross, which is my world."
The return of Baroni
In Tarvisio there was also great anticipation for the women's race, which had Francesca as the absolute protagonist Baroni, in force at the Belgian team Hubo-Remotive but that this year the centre of activity returns to be more shifted towards our areaNot even a puncture at the start of the race stopped her, after a couple of laps she was already in the lead without being caught again, with her daughter Lucia Craved over half a minute.
Behind the surprise comes the junior category where the Emilian Greta wins Pighi (Alé Cycling Team), even if the public sided with Martina Mountaineer (DP66) who, due to a broken saddle, ran and pushed the bike for more than half a lap. Among his peers, local athlete Stefano stood out. Viezzi (DP66), welcomed at the finish line by the whole family, including grandparents…
