More than saying what they have in common Mattia Proietti Gagliardoni, today at Team Franco Ballerini, and Julius Pellizzari, professional of the Red Bull–Bora, It would be better to say who. And this "who" is Massimiliano Gentili, the man who he followed them since they were children And they started getting serious. First as students, then as juniors... and now as professionals. Because Gentili, somehow, is always there for them.
Just a few days ago, the Umbrian coach was in Livigno on a mountain bike with Pellizzari. "A practice," Max explains, "that of mountain holidays, which they've been practicing for a few years, has always yielded good results. After all, it's a real mountain... even if, obviously, he doesn't touch the bike. Yesterday morning, for example, at 7:00 a.m. We went out for a walk on an empty stomach: it was 23 degrees below zero. It takes a lot of determination."
Pellizzari, in fact, cross-country skis, walks, works out in the gym, and will certainly roller skate. But let's go back to the beginning and what the two boys have in common.
Massimiliano, what do these two athletes, Pellizzari and Proietti Gagliardoni, have in common?
Before two athletes, They are two exceptional guys: nice, brilliant and even clever if you want. Kids who know how to fit in a group: they're not sullen and integrate well into various situations.
Shall we try to make a character comparison?
Giulio is more serene, calm and carefree than Mattia, who sometimes expresses a certain amount of anxiety. Giulio never had this aspect, not even before turning pro. And now that he's seeing that he has confidence and self-assurance, even less... if that's possible. Mattia, on the other hand, needs to work a little harder in this direction.
It's plausible. He's already a generation older than Pellizzari and has more technical knowledge, therefore more awareness...
In fact, that's exactly what I wanted to say. Even if it doesn't seem like it, five years have passed since the Bardiani green project, in which Giulio was involved, first began to be discussed. And five years is a long time now; everything changes. Pellizzari didn't have to go through this phase, but Mattia did. Mattia is in the midst of that generation that "must necessarily arrive at a I have to team up” and this creates stress, A stress that wasn't there before. Beyond the pressure to get on those teams, we also think about how these kids must relate to school.
That?
That is, that to finish it and not miss the opportunity of a I have to team up, almost all of them go to a private schoolMaybe abroad, in many countries, school ends a year early. And this is an additional stress. And they know that when they buy a ticket for a I have to team up, if they haven't arrived, they certainly have a fast track to professionalism.
Let's move on to a comparison of the rider-man. What was Giulio like?
One of Giulio's strengths is his margin. And I can say this with certainty, having followed him since he was a student. Recognizing his potential, I immediately tried to protect his talent. Up to now, Pellizzari has grown with very progressive loads that are proportionate to his physique. As a junior, for example, he never ran more than 115 kilometers. Only once, out of curiosity, when he was left alone, did he manage 130.
And Mattia?
He found himself having to deal with another reality. A reality in which the workloads for juniors, but also for students, have grown exponentially. That's why I say that Mattia, compared to Giulio at his age, trains more. I sincerely hope he can be a second boy of mine who succeeds, a boy for whom my presence has been important. However, even on this front, despite times having changed, there is something they have in common.
What?
That both of them were not exploited too much until the juniors. Even Mattia, who he never had a real full season. Ironically, contrary to what many people think, this prevented him from doing complete aerobic work, with certain loads in the winter. He completed his first full season on the road this year… and the results were there to see. In short, it's less exploited than you might think. And that's an advantage. Especially since it's a gasoline engine.
We like this one: we usually hear it referred to as a diesel engine. Could you explain it better, so we can perhaps start a purely technical discussion?
Of course, Mattia's heart is racing. His heart rate shoots up to 215 beats per minute, which means a lot and means nothing. But of course, combined with his cross-country skills, this makes him a brilliant rider, perhaps even fast in certain situations, like the arrival of a small group at the top of a climb. Not to mention that he's also learned to ride the bike well. This has given him a great change of pace. Now we hope that with time he can also improve his stamina and durability.
What kind of riders are they?
First of all, there is a difference in physical size. Giulio is a climber, but in general he is more of a modern and complete rider: he is 180 centimetres tall and weighs 67 kilos, He's light, but not as light as a pure climber. He has a lot of red fibers, hence endurance, and his heart has a higher rev counter than Mattia's. It stops at 190 beats. Just to clarify: heart rate data may not even tell you anything about strength and performance, it's just to help you understand the physical differences.
Of course, they give a precise idea of the difference between diesel and petrol…
Mattia, in fact, has slightly different, more explosive muscle fibers. Given that he, even more than Giulio, is in the midst of a physical transformation. Technically, given His measurements of 173 centimetres and 58 kilograms, he could be a climber like Yates. But I'd say it's more of a Pidcock. Mind you, I'm saying this to clarify its characteristics, not to draw any other comparisons.
Both are for the climb though, is that right?
Yes, Giulio had very high values since he was little and Mattia is also doing very well. However, as I was saying, It is and will be important to see how they react to the improvement in resistance and durability. In his first year as a pro, Pellizzari showed excellent performance, but in his first matches against the seniors, in the final stages, he struggled to replicate those numbers. It's now up to those who follow them to help them improve in this area.
You were very clear, Massimiliano. Let's go back to his character traits, perhaps through some anecdotes or specific memories. Let's start with Giulio...
What can I say, they're both determined. Giulio, for example, was really disappointed when De Candido didn't call him up to the national team. We were at a match, and a single look was enough. He spoke before me and said: "I know, don't say anything." I was about to tell him, "Let's show him who you are," and he won the Colli Recanatesi. Some time later, De Candido again had him undergo a selection, but on a course that clearly wasn't for him: a flat section around an industrial warehouse, essentially. Rino himself told me, "Your boy didn't do very well." In response, Pellizzari came close to winning the Eroica. He finished second behind Svrcek.
And what can you tell us about Proietti Gagliardoni?
I would say very similar to Giulio. This year, again at the Eroica, which he won, he told me: "Look, not even Pellizzari won it. I've shown I can compete at high levels."They're both fighters, two competitors. For example, in Livigno, Giulio and I used to play bowling. The first few shots weren't great. So I said to him, "What, do I have to teach you how to bowl too?" After three shots, he started getting strikes!
Do they ever talk to each other?
They talk to each other every now and then, compliment each other, follow each other on social media. They know that I am their meeting point. Then, in the end, they didn't have all these opportunities to be together. Some are on one side and some on the other. If I can say one thing, I I would have a dream: to see them competing in the Grand Tours in a short time. And may all this work, this dream, just as it became reality for Giulio, also become reality for Mattia.
