The warning signs were there, but perhaps not so evident as to make one think of the great feat accomplished yesterday by Sarah CasasolaThe Friulian (in the opening, photo Cor Vos) writes her name in the roll of honour of the classic Overijse, stage of the Superprestige. The blue one of the Crelan-Corendon She is the second Italian to win a stage in the prestigious challenge after Arzuffi, but it had never happened in what is considered one of the temples of world cyclo-cross.
A feat for Italian cyclocross
The numbers say that The feat represents almost a watershed in Casasola's career, who crossed the finish line in Overijse ahead of a master like Lucinda Brand, her 44th consecutive podium finish, not without a pinch of luck given the Dutchman's crash. The magnitude of the feat was still sinking in when she answered the phone from her Belgian apartment just after returning from the race.
"It was a pretty tough course," she says, "where you set your pace, with a rather technical climb, so I tried to stay ahead. Brand tried to push several times, but I managed to stay close, and I tried to put some pressure on her a couple of times too. She was going strong, and I was struggling a bit, but with just under a lap to go, I had gained a few meters on the descent. She must have taken a bit of a risk trying to get back; she hit a pole and fell. I heard something from the speaker, I turned around and it was gone, so then I had to do the last lap at full throttle to keep it from coming back.».
On the occasion of the first victory at the Tour of the Regions, you said you were a little behind the conditions you would have liked, but you recovered quite quickly, also because apart from this victory, you had already done very well on the circuit last weekend too…
Yes, last year I arrived at a good race pace the first weekend of October and was already moving up very quickly. This year I deliberately started slower, working on my weak points. I built a good foundation, I did a lot of strength training, gym training, cross-country training, because in the past what I was missing was pure power, real rhythm.In fact, in the last few weeks I've started working a little more on intensity. Last week I did well, but they were fast courses, less suited to me. I struggled a lot, but everything is a little more even there, so if you're smarter you can get through it.
Why is Overijse so important in the cyclocross season, considered a classic monument of the road?
It's a historic race, it was also a World Cup in the past. It involves a challenging course, so I think that to win one must have good legs, good techniqueIt's a very complete track and a lot of people like it, everyone comes here at their best and aims for victory, so I think that's also why it's so famous.
This was your second weekend competing internationally. Are you starting to get a better understanding of your opponents, their level, and how they compare to you?
At the moment the most difficult is certainly the Brand – Casasola decrees – on Van Empel There's a big question mark because he did win two races, but here they say he was a bit behind in his preparation, but I think he'll be in good shape at the European Championships. Alvarado It is still stopped and will start running again towards the end of November. So the Brand is the real reference. It always brings out something more..
Compared to previous years, you're starting off with a certain advantage because you've had a solid and demanding road season...
Yup, I think he gave a big hand and we will see this better later, because the road usually gives you good ground and you'll see it by running more. We'll see in December and January, but I think it's helped a lot. In terms of basic pace, I've improved a lot, so I think having a good season on the road always helps.
How did the team take your victory?
They were very happy. Then We're coming off two Superprestige race wins, so morale is definitely sky-high.Now let's look at the next race, the Koppenberg next Saturday: it's a beautiful race, it's always very selective, it starts right on the climb of the Tour of Flanders, then you go down onto the grass and go back up the famous wall, so it's a beautiful, demanding race.
Maybe you'll get the hang of it and come back next spring...
It would be nice, even if on the road I'm more of a stage racer. which are classic, but never say never, it would be nice to do the Flanders once…
