Two days to get to know each other. To experience what it means to be part of a great cycling family, one of those considered the true benchmark for two-wheeled cycling. To arrive at the gates of the "Wolfpack", like a true puppy who aspires to be "one of the pack". Renato Favero (in the opening photo Scanferla) began his adventure at Soudal QuickStep, in whose Development team he will race next year, through a first meeting in Belgium, to meet his teammates and staff and he immediately got a feel for what awaits him.
His story shows a mix of emotions coming from a courageous and difficult choice, for a boy on the threshold of adulthood: «The thing that struck me most was the professionalism of the team, ever since the sport director picked me up at Charleroi airport.. He spoke a little Italian, so he put me at ease the whole way to the hotel."
What did the first meeting consist of?
First of all, in a first meeting with all the staff, including the top management of the team, I had the opportunity to get to know Lefevere e CravedWe have done all the operations related to the bike Specialized which was given to me for training, then in the evening there was the official dinner with all my teammates and managers. In the hotel I was in the room with Raccagni Noviero who started explaining to me all the secrets of the team. The team is made up of 15 members, a real multinational, so it is also important to be able to express yourself with everyone, I will have to improve my language skills…
You had a Pinarello before. Will you have to make any modifications to the new bike based on your measurements?
No, we did everything there in Belgium, they have adjusted all the necessary measures, in fact it took some time to carry out all the steps, but now I can't wait to try it and slowly get used to my new bike.
What made you choose Soudal?
It didn't take long to convince me, we are talking about a real reference in top cycling, the team that has won everything in the classics and that has an absolute leader like evenepoel in its ranks. Joining a Devo team like this means being treated like a professional..Having the opportunity, if I manage to improve enough in terms of performance, to also race in the first team alongside the best, already experienced players and therefore learn even more.
Have you considered the possibility of making an Italian choice?
Honestly, I felt the need to get out of my "comfort zone", take a difficult step, test myself also from an existential, human point of view.It's a big gamble, even though I've noticed that among the staff and teammates, there are many people who speak Italian, and since I'm not yet familiar with English, this has put me at ease.
When the news of your hiring broke, many insiders raised some concerns, knowing your penchant for the track and your great prospects. What are the team saying? Will you have freedom of movement in this regard?
We haven't discussed it yet; we'll do so at the first training camp when each of us has a draft schedule. Maybe we'll talk about it at the end of the month when I have to take tests in Belgium. Obviously, they know about my results, but it will be assessed based on my commitments and calls from manager Villa. I would absolutely like to continue, but it is natural that the road is the first objective because the career is built there first and foremost.I hope we can find the right compromise, also considering the time trials, which are very important to me.
When did you first get in touch with the team?
They came looking for me after my performances at the Eroica juniors, with the victory in the inaugural team time trial and second place in the following semi-stage. Their words immediately convinced me; it was the right choice. All of this also got me thinking: I'm convinced that for an Italian rider, participating in the Nations Cup races is a crucial experience, especially when racing abroad. It's a completely different way of competing, firstly because you're competing in stage races, which foreigners are more accustomed to, and secondly because it's a privileged showcase for the most important teams.
What do you expect from this first contact with a completely new world?
I would like to grow 360°, physically, mentally, and also tactically. I know everything will change for me, even if it doesn't seem like it since I'll continue training at home. After all, I have exams at the end of the school year, and the team is very keen on putting a premium on studying in my first year. In fact, I already know the first part of the season will be more relaxed. As it should be.
