An victory Italian to Giro Next Gen. The one who scored it was Alessandro Romele in the Pergine Valsugana-Povegliano stage (opening photo from photors.it). A solo victory amidst many respectable foreign successes. A medal that, if viewed from one side, demonstrates the high international level maintained by the U23 race; on the other hand, a single Italian with his arms raised It may raise some questions about the level of our people.
It's only right to give credit where credit is due, so we picked up the phone and called Alessandro. For him it was the third success of the season, the first among the "big" in his category. The nineteen-year-old from Team Colpack Ballan CSB has proven once again that he is a sniper when it comes to tight sprints. When he replies, he's packing his bags for the Italian time trial and road championships.
Let's start from here...Are these two Italian championships two goals that suit your characteristics?
Unfortunately, they've changed the Italian word "strada" a bit. It used to be much more appropriate, now less so. It always remains a goal, and then the time trial is definitely challenging too. It's challenging, but I won't deny that I'm aiming for it anyway. I really enjoy these events and this year I wanted to dedicate myself more to them.
So you've been preparing this time trial for a while now?
Yes, right from the start, we're talking about February. I've been training a lot, even though there aren't many time trials in Italy. I did the Romanengo one and the Giro oneThere's a lack of opportunities to compete against.
Let's get to your victory at Giro Next GenFirst of all, how did you get there? Did everything go according to plan?
Yes, actually I was a little surprised by it, because I was already riding well from the beginning of the season. I was lucky enough to do the training camps in Calpe, so I think I had… found the condition right awayI managed to achieve the goals, such as the Liberation and another victory (Coppa Zappi, ed.). As for the Giro, the team had planned for the altitude. My only wish was to to be able to leave with the national team atOrlen Nations Grand PrixThis led to a change of plans, so I went up ahead of the team. Then I came down from Livigno and went with the national team to Poland.
Why this decision?
I felt that it was an opportunity that I needed and above all because I think that the blue jersey, seeing a bit of my experiences, has always given me something more on a mental and motivational levelI went without expectations and fully available to the team. I think I arrived at the Giro ready, maybe not at the first stage, but then as we went on I found the perfect condition.
Did you circle the Povegliano stage in red right from the start or did you take it one day at a time?
I had actually aimed for the first stage, the Cesano Maderno-Manerba del Garda, because it passed near my house. They were roads I knew and seemed suitable for me. The climbs were tough, but we tackled them at a steady high speed as a group and I managed to stay there. In the finale I found myself at I worked for Meris and I was very happy to have given him the boost helping him bring home a fourth-place finish. Cretti also finished eighth, and I finished tenth. I had watched the next day's stage in the eveningI won't deny that I thought I didn't want her to finish in a sprint, also because we no longer had a sprinter, so I saw it as an opportunity.
How did you build this victory?
There was a climb and then downhill and flat until the finishI caught a glimpse of a gap 500 meters from the top, and Sergio (Meris, ed.) and Luca (Cretti, ed.) were there. I said, "Guys, be careful, because the Jumbo can't hold it, since there are only two of us." I saw Sergio, who had gestured to me as if to say, "What are we going to do?" So he took the first shot with me rotating and then, as soon as From Pretto he in turn placed himself behind us, we went outWe easily gained speed and distance on the descent and were able to take away the decisive breakaway.
How did the ending go?
Everything went fairly smoothly toward the end. There was agreement, but De Pretto rightly stopped cooperating at the end.
The three-man sprint is kind of your ace in the hole. Have you and Meris come to an agreement?
We didn't talk much. I saw a lot of concentration. A great desire to get there because it was also his goal to get a good result at the Giro. I felt good and confident. As I had also demonstrated at the Liberazione, I feel very comfortable in tight sprints.
In fact, you won the sprint really well…
Being fast does matter, but ultimately, if you're fast but arrive tired after 120 kilometers of breakaway, there's little you can do. I was fine and made the most of my abilities.
And on an emotional level, how was it for you to win a stage at the Giro Next Gen?
It was my first Giro. The strongest emotion of my, let's say, small careerAnd it is undoubtedly the race with the highest overall level of the group. All the strongest young people were there. I'm really happy. It's worth all the sacrifices and everything we've done this year to raise the bar.
Now the objective is Italy, then rest?
We've been going full steam ahead since the beginning of the year. I did it. many days of competition Despite a few interruptions due to illness, starting Monday we'll take stock of the situation and organize the season finale, and why not, maybe... be able to earn a place with the national team for the most important events. That would be really nice.
