Gabriel Fede crosses the Alps again, after two years in France, to return to racing in Italy.. He will do it with the Beltrami TSA Three Hills, a choice that raised many questions. Fede's adventure, which began just after finishing the junior category, ended soon after.What are the reasons behind your choice? And what has remained of this time in the AG2R Devo Team?
«In mid-2023, the team informed us that there would no longer be team development for 2024 – says Gabriel Fede – or at least not as we had known it. In fact, from next season it will become a continental race, still managed by Ag2REverything has been revolutionized: riders, staff, sports director and everything else. None of the guys who were on the team with me will be racing with them in 2024, only Jordan Labrosse remains, but he moves to the WorldTour team."
Did you receive this news during the season and how did you react?
Exactly what we were told after the Giro Next Gen, so in June. As a result I started looking for new solutionsI did a training camp with the TotalEnergies satellite team (Vendée U, ed.). My coach contacted me, we did some tests, but then they decided to focus on different profiles.
When did Beltrami's proposal materialize?
At the end of August, in reality the contact has always been there. I've known them for a long time, they are people I get along with really well.We then signed the contract in October.
Did you have other offers in Italy?
Some other continental had come into contact with me, but Beltrami's choice was simpleSince I already know the people, I'm aware of what awaits me, and then they also know me, and that's important.
In what sense?
They know I do cyclocross, a discipline that I will also practice this winter, probably starting at the end of November. The fact that Beltrami has a cyclocross team helped me make the decision, it's important for me to maintain it. Even at the Devo Team of Ag2R, we used cyclocross as part of our preparation.
The journey with the French team ended halfway. How satisfied are you with what you've accomplished?
I would do the experience again in a heartbeat and it's something that will stay with me forever. I have lived alone, I have changed a lot of my life and I feel that this will be useful for my career.I got along well with Ag2R, we had a challenging schedule during both seasons, often racing with the elite.
Wasn't that too big a step?
I wouldn't say so, in fact I grew up at the right time. I don't think I rushed things, I would have clearly liked to deal with professionals, but there was no opportunityOnly one rider (Labrosse, ed.) has passed from Devo Team to the WorldTour, who first did the internship and will be with them from 2024.
Any regrets?
Honestly, I would have expected a clearer path, that is, at the end of these two years, to do another two and see how it would goNow at Beltrami I want to race with the professionals, something I missed during the two years in France. I also chose them because they do a lot of competitions of this type and it's a way to grow further, but I will not completely cut ties with France.
That?
I will have at my side a French coach, Luc Chelain, who works in Ag2R, in the WorldTour team. He also followed me in the first two years as an under 23 and I will continue to train in the same wayI got along very well with him, he's one of the few who understands me and he's very good, there's a good relationship between me and him, so I preferred to continue on the same path.
