Dario Igor Belletta he is one of those Italians with a suitcase in his hand, ready to leave our country to grow up and become a professional riderHis future speaks Dutch, the young Lombard will in fact race in the development team of Jumbo VismaThese days Dario is in retreat with his new team and his teammates, let's go with him to see what it feels like to be part of the squadron he has won the UCI ranking in 2022.
"We're now in Norway, in Lillehammer," Belletta begins euphorically, "for a two-week retreat. No bikes, lots of different activities, and one goal: Get to know each other and learn to be together. Both among riders and with staff members.».
What do you do?
Lots of things, in the morning we all go cross-country skiing together, here in Lillehammer in 1994 there were the Winter Olympics and the facilities are brand new and free. It's beautiful, each of us takes the skis and there are these stadiums full of slopes and people walking around and training.Here people don't walk, they ski.
Have you ever skied before?
I've done a bit of downhill skiing a few times, but never bottom skiing. I didn't have a bad experience, and we have a very respectable instructor: a former Olympic champion.. In short, I would say that to learn it was difficult to find someone better (he says laughing, ed.).
And do you like it?
A lot, it's a way to challenge yourself and get out of your comfort zone, and you try to change your mindset. It's an important skill, and learning it by playing a new sport is fun.
And the rest of the day?
We do many other activities, as soon as we come back from skiing we eat, and to make us feel part of this new group, Pietro and I (Mattio, ed.) the chef will cook the lasagna. In the early afternoon you have some free time, some study, some like me do some interviews or just rest.We meet around mid-afternoon for a snack and then we talk with the staff about the various goals for the season. Then in the evening it depends, today (Friday, ed.) there is the quarter-final of the football World Cup: Holland-Argentina, so we watch the game. Even boss Richard Plugge came to watch the game with us.
What are your comrades like?
Very nice, one thing I really like is that they come from all over the world. There is a good Dutch base: out of 14 boys a third are "at home"Then there are the Danish, Norwegian, American guys, and Mattio and I, who have now been nicknamed "the Italian guys." The older guys are responsible for hanging out with us new guys and helping us integrate. Some of them go to a Norwegian university to do metabolic tests in the afternoon. with which the team collaborates.
So still no bikes for now?
No, no cycling these two weeks, also because it's -20 degrees outside (laughs again, ed.). We'll see about that during the January and February training camps; we'll be spending a lot of time in Spain cycling. Lo staff he told us that this moment is about creating chemistry between usIn Spain, there'll be a lot of cycling, and we'll have less time to spend time together. What they want to convey is that we're not just people wearing the same shirt, but part of a unique project. One of the two retirements, I'm not sure which one yet, will be with the WorldTour team.
Excited?
So much, I can't wait to ride with them! I've only seen them on TV and soon I'll be riding alongside them. It's incredible.
What kind of world is this?
Amazing, it's like stepping onto another planet. It's all done the right way and with a program behind it.They're serious but at the same time very positive and helpful. Even trying a new sport in December, when other teams are already on their bikes, is strange but pleasant. In the end we will be cycling all year round, I'm not saying it gets boring, but almostMaking a different preparation is special and stimulating.
Have you been to the s-Hertongenbosch location?
Yes and I saw that you were there tooIt's unthinkable, you have to see it to believe it. When I walked in, I felt like a kid at Disneyland. In fact, I've nicknamed it the Disneyland of cycling. And their whole mentality and organization is carried out, wherever they are in the world.
You said you spoke to the staff, what did you say?
One of the things that surprised me most was that I didn't need to introduce myself. They already knew everything about me, absolutely everything, they knew every comma of the last four years.When they decide to invest in you, they do so comprehensively. Their goals will be to understand my strengths and weaknesses. For this aspect the retreats in January and February will be fundamental.Now they want to know the human aspect, the cyclist in the next few months.
And the track?
They are extremely in favor of dual activity, they particularly encourage it also because the benefits are visible. I like the track and I want to continue it., in the next few months I will talk with Villa and we will figure out the program to keep based on the calendar.
