Giovanni Aleotti he's part of the gang Bora Hansgrohe “2.0”, that is, the one taken in hand by Enrico Gasparotto. The Emilian rider was the first to disrupt the Giro d'Italia. He did so with a lethal move in the Turin stage (top photo), the one that revolutionized the overall standings.
But the ranking situation of this Tour of Italy It somehow “slowed down” the boy in terms of personal ambitions. Giovanni dedicated himself completely to the team's cause. A team that after History, has changed, and is changing, its features. Now the focus is on stage races.
Giovanni, you and Gasparotto run differently: what's changed?
We're going more on the attack. We've tried to always be a key player in this Giro, both with breakaways and with surprise attacks like in the Turin stage. We need to support them as best we can. Jay Hindley until the end.
So far, the key moment of the Giro has been in your legs. In Turin, you produced the explosive performance that blew the bank...
Oh, he laughs, but it wasn't just me! We'd studied it. We'd thought about it, we knew it was a complicated stage and that something could happen. We entered the circuit ahead of the pack and realized we could make a selection even on the downhill. We rode a tough race. Even Kelderman He was fantastic in the final lap.
But you made the real selection: you did 10-15 minutes at a lot of watts…
I followed the directions of my companions behind. When they told me the group had split up, I persisted. And it went well.
What did Gasparotto tell you about that action of yours?
He was happy. He's the one who thought it up. And he's the one who motivated us and believed in it more than anyone else.
So you knew you had to take action at exactly that point and in that way?
Not that way; we didn't plan on doing the bulk of the selection on the downhill, but on the climb after the descent. But that's how it turned out... and we're all happy. When I moved I was dead tired, but the other teammates did a good job of completing it.
Is there any satisfaction in playing this role, or perhaps, seeing that some time is starting to pass, you'd like more space? Perhaps you should think about the white jersey, since you finished second at the Avenir...
I think it's early. But above all, I definitely don't consider myself a stage racer, at least not yet. I think I still have to mature physically.
So that's okay…
Yup, I don't think it happens every day that you find yourself fighting for a Giro d'Italia and to be a key player in the team that's competing for it. We're focused on this goal now.
What do you like, if at all, about this new way of running?
Certainly I feel more responsible. And I like that. But having to always be in the thick of the action is also stimulating. We don't suffer the race, we make it.
What is the specific role?
It varies from day to day. Especially in this phase, there are men who need to stay close to Jay on the final climbs and others who need to work first. When the selection is made and there are ten left, I'm still not there, I don't have that rhythm.
You, Giovanni, are good at climbing, but in this specific moment and with your role, are you more of a "flat" man or a climber?
It depends on the climb. I can handle the long ones, but, as I said, not when the big selection process takes place. I think I need to improve on the climbs, but there's time.
Yesterday, for example, towards Castelmonte, what was your role?
Having been to the Cycling Team Friuli I knew the roads a little up to the Slovenian border. And I was often in front. The entrance to Tarcento was a bit tricky, as were a couple of descents after that. So I offered some advice. I was in front all the way up to Kolovrat.
You pulled a lot, what was Bora Hansgrohe's tactic?
Jay was fine and today (yesterday, ed.) we wanted to flush out the others. However, we expected some control, some action from other teams like Bahrain Victorious, but in the end they didn't move and there was no point in continuing to squeeze the team given that tomorrow (today, ed.) there is another opportunity.
You mentioned the Marmolada stage: are you happy with arriving at the time trial like this, or is the idea to put a bit of a gap on Carapaz?
It's a very tough stage, I even know the final climb: whoever has the legs will try it. carapazI think neither of them feels secure in their position and both will try to push the other away.
For now, it's still fine to admire Aleotti in this role, but soon we'd like to see him with more space for himself. The idea of a young man who trains to gain experience is fine, but within certain limits. The risk is to become stuck in that role and lose your attitude with victory.
But there's a pink jersey at stake, and every strength in the team must be carefully considered. And Gasparotto knows this well.
