Davide De Pretto, former Italian cross-country promise now totally converted to the road, closed 2022 with the internship at Bike Exchange-Jayco, the icing on the cake of a truly turning point season after his debut among the under 23s last year with Beltrami. After the transition to Zalf Desirée Fior everything changed and the results confirmed it.
«If I look at what I did last year – he says – there has been a big leap in quality, both in terms of results and in how I manage the racesI'm happy. I immediately felt better at Zalf and also the extra year means a lot, because the leap from junior to under 23 is a big one. Plus, Zalf is close to home and this allowed me to train better. I don't deny that last year at some point I felt inadequateI trained, I worked hard, but I didn't get any results. And then I was sorry, because I was working so hard and wondering why I couldn't get anything done.... ".
What about this year?
I started the winter very convinced. I trained with my teammates who won races and I felt good in training.I wasn't struggling. And from there I realized that maybe it was the right path. Last winter I worked harder, especially in the gym. I remember that the first year I worked here at home, because the gyms were closedI used to go to the gym in a manner of speaking, but now with the machines there's been a big difference. And above all The bike training sessions that Faresin now gives me have also changed.
What did you like most: the three wins, the consistency of performance, or the podium at the European Championships?
The best thing about 2022 was have maintained shape for most of the yearIt's always been a characteristic of mine, but this year I started strong and managed to continue until the end of the yearI didn't expect it. I knew I was fine, but mentally the continuity gave me the confirmation that I too can play it at higher levels.
Second at Capodarco: was Buratti stronger or was the age difference noticeable?
At Capodarco I found Buratti in his best formHe was unbeatable, but one more year certainly means a lot. Both physically and mentally.
How was the World Cup experience?
A bit of a disappointment for me, because I was unable to make for what I wantedIt was a nice experience, though. compared to the European one, the level was twice as highThere are riders and teams with a different style, riders who come from the professional ranks. I may not have been at the European level, but I had done some races in Puglia, where I had shown good condition. However, the World Cup was not my peak period of form.
How did the internship with Bike Exchange go?
They said they were very happy. At the Giro dell'Emilia I had a good race and then above all At Tre Valli Varesine I was the first of the team, because all the others withdrew. So they were very happy. I missed the last climb, otherwise I would have arrived there in front. My agent Alessandro Mazzurana says there's some chance they'll take me., but not right away. There are things to do, next year I'll do it again at Zalf.
The cross-country season has just started, are you feeling nostalgic?
The truth? Not even a little. At the end of the season I know I have to recover and I haven't even started following the races. Last year was different. Not doing cross-country last winter seemed very strange to me. I didn't know what to do, having been used as I was for four years to switching from road to cross-country. But I also did less tiring seasonsSo I'll rest completely until mid-November, and then get back to the gym and mountain biking. Let's try to grow even further...
