The return journey from Troyes is prolonged: after the long flight there are at least two hours of driving to get home, but in Stefano's mind Viezzi It's as if the darkness of the night, punctuated by the streetlights along the road, isn't there. The joy of success, his first World Cup stage, still sparkles in his mind. An Italian success that had been missing in the category since 28 December 2004, thanks to Davide MalacarneViezzi, at that time, hadn't been born yet...
In the morning the voice is still sleepy and it could not be otherwise, but there is the awareness that it is the dawn of a new Viezzi, now an absolute protagonist on the international sceneI replayed the race several times, replaying every single part of it in my mind. It wasn't an easy race; it was my first of the season in the classic cyclocross conditions, the mud, where you win physically, but also with technique and, above all, strategy.
In his review of the match, Pontoni emphasized how you adhered to the tactics planned on the eve…
The French track was treacherous, where the slightest mistake could cost you the race. It also required maximum attention on every single section, and as the laps passed and you became more tired, the risk of making a mistake increased.
How did you build your victory?
On the first lap we had agreed with the coach that I would remain cautious, but I had to get off to a good start because after 300 meters there was a counter slope and if you weren't in the first 5-6 you had to stop and get off your bike.I studied my opponents and on the second lap I increased the pace to see if anyone was following me, but instead I found myself alone. On the penultimate lap I saw that Pan-American champion David John Thompson (USA) was close, under 10”, but I never really suffered, in the end I actually enjoyed the joy of success.
This was your second experience abroad this year. What was your impression of the overall level?
It's definitely very high because there's a lot of competition. I already knew some of them from last year, but there are many who entered the category this year who are already going very well. The level is high in many countries, more so than in other categories.
Now this success changes your perspective a bit, others will look at you as the man to beat…
For me, nothing changes in my approach to competitions, I will continue to tackle these races as always, with great attention to every single detail. because this is the only way to stand out. I don't look so much at my opponents, but rather at the individual tracks and at doing what I know how to do well.
Will you follow the entire Cup journey now?
I would love to. I will definitely be in Dublin and it will be an important test, then we will see about the others but I would definitely like to try to keep this leader's jersey because it represents so muchTo tell the truth, I haven't even looked at the Italian calendar anymore; I'm afraid there won't be many opportunities to attend, aside from the national championship.
Victory allows you to start ahead of everyone…
In fact, I was already entitled to the front row in Troyes. I managed to get through 3rd or 4th at the first corner, but now I have more points and I'm more relaxedThe season is long, and being able to be at the front is a significant advantage for the upcoming races. I want to try...
Viezzi, but not only: Pontoni speaks
The same person is giving guarantees to Viezzi Punctual, also recovering from very few hours of sleep: «I have already spoken with Amadio, We will follow the entire Cup journey, because Stefano deserves to play his chancesBut I would like to underline that the entire category is doing well: Augustine e Fantini They were well inside the top 10 when a Frenchman ran into the first who hit the second. Result: Agostinacchio's gear shift broke and the other Italian rider's bike was also ruined. But they have shown that there are opportunities to emerge."
Stefano said that you had suggested the right tactic…
Let's say we discussed it before the race. His great ability is to read the race before it happens. After the reconnaissance on Saturday, we talked about it at length, and even after the Sunday ride, we discussed it to find the right tactics. I told him that there were many sections where, due to the rain the day before and the mud, there was only one trajectory available to avoid falling, you had to stay in front. He was able to manage everything precisely, I never feared for the result even when the American was getting closer.
Looking at the race as a whole, it is striking that the Belgians and the Dutch are behind…
It's no coincidence that if you look at the top 10, there is a large geographical spread. In the youth field it seems strange, but the references are differentFrance, who have been doing well for the past 5-6 years, the Americans themselves, and Hungary, who have a couple of very strong players. But I'd also include Italy, especially after they've grown a bit in their first year. We have many up-and-coming young players, and they'll all get their chances. Stefano's victory is certainly no coincidence.
