«If I had to give advice to the juniors I would tell them to do things calmly and don't rush. With sacrifices and hard work the results come." These are the words of Thomas Capra who just finished two years as a junior wearing the Team Assali Stefen jersey (photo Bi.Ci.Cailotto in the opening) and is now ready to throw himself into the under 23 fray to find his place. First year winner of the Ghent-Wevelgem It's always been an interesting profile with a lot of eyes on it.
The 2005 class of Carzano has chosen the Cycling Team Friuli. The motivation? Stay in Italy to finish my studies and have a vision for the future given the team's affiliation with Bahrain VictoriousLet's rewind and retrace these two years of Valsuganotto, between successes and a desire to go North.
Let's start with your two years as a junior. What can you tell us about your 2022 season?
In 2022 I started well, with the victory of GhentBut then I wasn't feeling well, one thing after another, I think I even caught Covid. I didn't get the results I expected after that important victory. In the end, I did get a few placings, but nothing special, I couldn't win again.
And how did you experience your 2023?
I started well, with a victory in the first raceI always went with the national team to do Ghent and Roubaix, and I was fine. But this time I was unlucky, I fell four times, and still I finished ahead, in the group just behind the leaders, because there was a breakaway. In Roubaix, however, I expected better. In the future I'd like to try to win it, because in the end those are the things I like. Then I won four more races even if I missed the one of international importance, like the year before. We went to France with the national team and did very well. Bessega managed to win and we worked well.
In these two years, do you still feel like you've maintained constant growth?
Yes, that definitely. There is still room for improvement However, there is always time to grow.
What assessment did Alberati give you?
He's happy. Next year, however, the team will entrust us with the team trainer, so I'll have to get used to the new situation.
How did you come to this decision to join Cycling Team Friuli?
Especially for my agent Maurizio Fondriest, who insisted on this choice because the CTF is very close to Bahrain Victorious. My friend Marco Andreaus who's already part of the team told me they work really well. So I said, why not...
How do you know Andreaus? What did he tell you about the team?
He lives here, three kilometers from my house. We've known each other since we were little and we get along great. We often go out cycling together and also go hiking or ski mountaineering.He told me they're very well-prepared and that it's a great team, especially in terms of organization. Also for the races we're going to do, because since they've been affiliated, let's say with Bahrain, they've been going to do a lot of races abroad, also towards Northern Europe, where there are those that interest me and that I like a lot.
The team isn't very close to your home, but it's not on the other side of Italy either, and since you're also in your last year of high school, did that influence your decision?
Yes, exactly. That's why, in the end, too. I decided to stay in Italy and not go abroad, even though there were still offersI made this choice to finish school peacefully and then think about the rest.
You've already shown that you have increasingly defined physical characteristics for two years, but in the under-23s you're seeing a sort of redefinition. What characteristics are you starting with?
I'm a phelp quickly, I'm someone who can handle climbs that aren't too long or hardI'm also fast in the sprint. This year I've also won many bunch sprints, although small ones are my ideal environment.
Do you think you might be suited to stage races?
We'll see. I don't know, maybe they're a bit different from what I think they are today. But we'll see, I still have to measure myself against them.
What advice would you give to a student who wants to follow a positive path like yours?
Don't rush and take things slowly. With hard work and sacrifice, results will eventually come.
Have you started pedaling again yet?
Yes, now I'm starting to calmly start again with the gym and walking. Not much cycling for now. I still have to pick up the team's bike; I'm still pretty inactive, they're leaving me alone. From the next retreat, which will be next weekend, I think they will start more seriously.
What hobbies do you have to spend the winter in your Valsugana?
Ski mountaineering and hiking because there is no shortage of mountains around hereNow that the snow has arrived, it's the best time to do these things. They're distractions that allow me to do other things and not think exclusively about the bike.
