Testa, head and head again. It takes to win, to hold on, to train hard and also, but perhaps it would be better to say above all, when things get tough. For example, when you move from a WorldTour to a professional team. Or from a professional team to a continental team. This latter issue is something we've addressed with Alessio Nieri. The Tuscan is about to move from Green Project-Bardiani-CSF-Faizané to the Work Service-Vitalcare-Dynatek.
Nieri ended the year with the terrible accident that occurred at the Tour of Türkiye. It was October and Alessio suffered fractures and lung problems. We ourselves told the story. here His ordeal. Today, almost two months after that fall, Alessio is doing better. He still isn't riding, but his body is recovering.
«Things are going better – Nieri said – I tried to go out on my bike. I rode for an hour, but I realized it wasn't the right thing to do. I'm still pretty stuck in that part of my body, between my neck and back. Now I'm doing core exercises at the gym, and I go to the osteopath every other day."
Alessio, let's start with the team change: how did you end up at Work Service?
They had already contacted me at the beginning of September, but I still didn't know whether Green Project-Bardiani would keep me or not. When they then told me they weren't renewing my contract, I thought it was right to get back to them. I know Mistichelli and Iommi have been playing for a while now, and their team has a good schedule. As a true continental should.
When do you plan to get back on your bike?
I think it's over after the holidays. As I said, for now, I'm focusing on full physical and postural recovery.
Andrea Bardelli, one of your future sports directors, said that some riders are at their last resort and therefore looking for redemption. Is that true?
Bardelli maybe it was a little raw, but he told the truth. An important year awaits us, I also think about Rastelli, who was with me in Green Project-Bardiani. I will try to give my all, to do my best to get back up the division. Racing with the elite under-23s is a big sacrifice for us who are 23-24 years old and come from the pros.
How do you approach a season like this?
Doing the 360 degree rider, You can't think about going to work or anything else. And this is especially true for those of us who are "coming back down." The imperative is to try to redeem oneself.
Is it more of a sword of Damocles or a stimulus?
For me it's a motivation. I find myself in a category in which I've already raced. Most of the races we'll do will be elite-under-23 and this It will also be a way to compare notes, to understand if and to what extent these two years among the pros have left any benefits. And we'll see if there really is a chance to get back up among the professionals or not.
What have these two years left you?
Definitely a good amount of experience. Racing with the pros is another thing, especially in terms of mileage.I've done more stage races in these two seasons than in the rest of my previous career. And that changes your body, your engine.
But it won't be easy, Alessio. Besides seeing the numbers, we often watch the U23s race live: their pace and performance are anything but ordinary. It won't just be a matter of legs. We'll also need to be mentally ready.
No, no… it's very easy! They're going strong. What changes is the management of the race. It's one thing to compete with the pros, with 7-8 WorldTour riders, as happened in the professional ranks, and another thing to compete with the amateurs. The races are formulaic. Here, they're more Garibaldi-like.
Of course, among the pros, everything is more managed; there are specific roles and tasks. Are you mentally prepared for this Garibaldi approach?
I think so. Then a certain mentality comes back to you running, spending time with the guys and talking to them. I think it's something that comes back automatically, that's part of the rider's DNA.
You mentioned pros in the third person. Does that mean you don't feel like a pro anymore?
The way I see it Anyone who races in continental championships is only half a pro. And it's not easy to give a precise definition. You're a pro, but you compete with amateurs. I often hear that being in a continental team, you call yourself a pro, but then you want to move up to the professional or WorldTour teams. A continental is a great opportunity, but it is a point of passage and not of arrival.
Does the fact that you're a climber, even a rather pure one, complicate things for a climb?
A little, yes. But basically you have to go fast. Of course, the climber has fewer opportunities to shine. Also because the longest climbs are found in the most important races where there are also the WT or professional races. I have in mind Colnaghi, a fast man who goes very fast, but when the greats were there he had to settle for fourth or fifth places.
