Those hands on the eyes after the arrival and the dedication towards the sky give the exact measure of the Lorenzo Masciarelli needed to win. He had told us about it a few days ago and for this reason the victory in Rome, on this day so strange in its own way, will remain engraved in his personal history as an athlete and as a man (at the top, photo by Simone Lombi).
Il Liberation Grand Prix It took place in a blender of emotions. For the Bergamo team, those following the Death of Pietro Valoti, father of sports director Gianluca, to whom Masciarelli also addressed a thought as he approached the finish line. For Rome and for the Catholic world, those of the days following the death of Pope Francis. An April 25th that the Abruzzese of the team MBH Bank-Ballan It was a true rebirth and we like to tell it as such. Fifty years after the victory of his grandfather Palmiro, memory of a different cycling, of when the amateurs were such and at the start of this race you could find up to 250 of them from all over the world, launched towards the Olympics.
A climber who wins the Liberation, were you really that well?
I knew I was going strong and that I could do well, but I didn't expect to win. With the team we knew that I would have to anticipate, we had talked about it, also because in a sprint it would have been riskier anyway. I saw the opportunity after two laps and I slipped into the first breakaway of the day.I thought that someone had done well by doing this and I threw myself into it. And then in the end I felt good, Thanks also to my partner who gave me a big hand (Hungarian Takács, first year winner of the Giro del Friuli juniors in 2024, ed.).
Perhaps stepping out of the shoes of the man who goes around at all costs has opened other doors?
I'm happy because I've found a bit more explosiveness, even if I still have to understand what kind of rider I am, because at Recioto I was also strong on the climbs and I had good feelings. Now I know I also have this outburst, so it's difficult to find a single definition. I honestly don't know how to describe myself, I know I won and this is really great news..
You've been on the run all day: did you always believe you'd arrive or were you afraid of the approaching group?
Since I entered the run, I saw the riders who were there and I immediately thought that we could do well, because they were strong guys and we were going at a good pace. Even though the group behind us was pushing hard, we weren't getting too close. I was afraid at some point that they would come back, after 2-3 laps that we had startedBut then we started to gain more and more ground and, above all, there was a lot of dialogue between us.
Dialogue?
When we saw that the group had reached us at 1'30”, we increased the pace again and managed to get back to two minutes, there was a good agreement between us. We talked a lot and so I started to be more and more convinced.We could have gotten there. Even when UAE got ahead and immediately gained 30 seconds, we held them off by picking up the pace.
Until your final solo…
I made the first move with three laps to go and we got back to a 2-minute lead and I realized that the guys behind weren't that strong. Takàcs helped me a lot, he made some really strong shots and in the meantime the boys who were with us were suffering more and more. At that point, I realized it could be done.
You walked away alone and never looked back.
Exactly, but up until 400 meters I still didn't believe it. On the last lap, I never looked backI only had some reference when I saw the group on the side road. At the turnaround after the last pass on the finish line, I saw them close together. It must have been 6-7 seconds and from then on I didn't turn around again.I went full speed to the finish line and when in the last 400 meters I saw that there was no one behind me on the descent, I realized I had won.
A victory that gives confidence?
I knew I was fine and that alone gave me confidence. What I take away from Rome is the lesson that sometimes by daring more you can achieve a good resultI hadn't won on the road since my second year as a student, a really long time. I did it, so I have more serenity on a personal level, maybe from now on I can have more fun.
What does the program now include?
There are still many races, then there is il Giro Next Gen, but in the meantime let's go to the Turin-BiellaIt's a beautiful moment. Nespoli won the Recioto and since the first retreat we have had the feeling of a team in excellent health. We were sorry that we had not yet reaped the benefits of our training. and the efforts we made during the days on Etna as we prepared for the April classics. This week was the real turning point.
It was also the confirmation that by working well, the I have to team up aren't they that far away?
In my opinion it is so. Maybe they have some small precautions, some more updates having WorldTour teams behind themBut in the end, they're kids like us, we're the same age. So, even though they may be more up-to-date than us, except for 2-3 riders who are going very fast like Finn himself, we have nothing to envy him.As long as you work in the right way: this is the most correct premise.
