Another Zurlo on the scene: Giro del Veneto in the bag

The Giro del Veneto U23 ended yesterday and Matteo Zurlo was the one who won the amaranth jerseyRunner of the Zalf Euromobil, brother of Federico (professional from 2015 to 2020), cycling is a family affair.

We asked them to tell us about these five days of running and let's get to know him better to find out something more of this promising rider.

Let's start from the last stage, the one that allowed you to triumph.

I would call it difficult, given the route, but I managed myself well especially thanks to the excellent teamworkWe had two tough climbs to tackle. My teammate Riccardo Verza, who was leading the general classification, lost his wheels, while I stayed with the best. I got to compete for the stage victory with seven others, In the end Francesco Romano won and I came in second..

A long and varied Giro del Veneto, with many different routes and unusual arrivals. Which of these have you enjoyed the most?

Personally I felt good on all terrains, I was coming from a period of positive form, with the victory at the Antonietto Rancilio Trophy in Parabiago, and I rode a wave of enthusiasm. The finish on the dirt roads was the most spectacular from a race perspective. With Gandin and Verza I gained a lead thanks to a breakaway and we managed to accumulate almost 3 minutes on our rivals.

What was a difficult moment instead?

Not difficult, but due to a lapse in concentration in the fourth stage, at the top of a steep climb, I didn't follow the wheels of the leaders well and a gap was created. That day I lost a minute and the leader's jersey, who nevertheless remained in the team, passing on the shoulders of Verza.

As a team, how did you handle situations?

After the dirt roads of the second day we understood our strength, there has never been a designated captainWe managed day by day without ever going into crisis and without being influenced by the emotions of the momentEven yesterday, when Verza struggled, we didn't panic. We were confident we could count on two strikers.

A great success, but now tell us a little about yourself? How did you get into cycling?

I started early, in the G1, on the same team as my brother FedericoHe raced in the G5 category, in Bicisport Linda of Tezze sul Brenta. I then moved to Zalf, where I have been racing for four years nowI feel at home here, especially since I'm just 15 kilometers from where I was born and raised.

What is your relationship with your brother? Being older, I imagine he gave you a lot of advice.

We have a good relationship, watching him run, as a child, I became passionate about this worldHe was important to my growth. The fact that he managed to gain professional experience speaks volumes about how much I can learn from his past. We are not the same, it's worth saying, but Having such a point of reference is truly beautiful and inspiring.

Zalf is a continental team this year. How does this change affect your future?

This is great news, Running with professionals allows me to accelerate my growth path But without forcing things. The team and I make decisions on a case-by-case basis. The last race we competed in was the Adriatica Ionica Race.

Will you give yourself a little rest now?

Yes, I'd say deserved (laughs, ed.), then back to work more energized and with high morale.