From Alpecin to corratec, So Kristian Sbaragli took his world and redesigned it, partly out of necessity and partly looking for something different for himself.. In recent years it has been the shore and the guide for Van der Poel e Philipsen, but now that the Belgian team has decided to rejuvenate the squad, keeping the three leaders and letting all or almost all the boys from the Devo Team pass, There was no more room for the 1990-born rider from Castel Fiorentino.
«I was fine with them – he explains – I had no problems. It's just that After the World Cup we spoke with the team: there were different projects and in the end there were no longer the conditions to stayI did four years, and they were happy too. So in the end it was just a technical choice, a desire for renewal. That's how it works in the world of work, everyone has their own policy and that's why we broke up.. It was no longer possible to continue, but we remained on excellent terms."
How did we get to Corratec?
When we spoke to the team and understood that it was not in the plans to stay, there were various options, but nothing concreteWe spoke with both the WorldTour and professional teams, but we never signed a contract. In the meantime, I had also spoken with Corratec. So, once the season was over, we saw each other a couple of times with Lastrucci, which is one of the team's sponsorsI've known him all my life, because when I was a junior at Vangi, he was a team sponsor. Then as an amateur I raced with him at Hopplà and he convinced me to marry this project, to get back in the game to achieve personal goals that I had put on the back burner over the last four years. And in the end I accepted the challenge.. Of course it's a smaller team, there will be times when others will be leaders, but basically I start with much more freedom.
Let's say that third place in the Italian championship turned on a light bulb for you?
That was one of the factors, one of the things that convinced me. We will definitely make a calendar more suited to my characteristicsAnd then I wouldn't mind rediscovering this part. It's not about winning a Giro d'Italia or starting the season with the goal of winning the Sanremo, even if anything can happen. I want to be competitive and see what results can be achieved without having tasks to perform for other captains.
The biggest difference will be the organization of the team.
The structure is undoubtedly smaller, so As in all professional companies, there will certainly be deficits in terms of staffing levels and some organizational aspects. But let's say that being old, so to speak (smiles, ed.), has allowed me to gather the experience that can be useful. In these four years at Alpecin I learned a lot. We worked very specifically, especially on certain workouts and nutrition during training and competition. If you pay attention and don't just do it because you're told, but listen and look around, These are things that you find even when you change teamsIt's a wealth of experience that you carry with you as you age. Every year I have always tried to gather all the experience possible, always trying to do things in the best way.
Maybe your arrival will be of help to others too…
I think I have a bit of experience to make available to help the whole team growI'm thinking of the younger guys. Maybe they don't lack anything, though. they have never really been bigger and perhaps having some more references could be useful to them.
Of the fantastic Italians of the 90s, only you, Cattaneo, and Felline remain. What does it mean to be 33 in this fast-paced cycling world?
In absolute terms, 33 years may be a relatively old age. Next year in the WorldTour there will be a lot of guys born after 2000One of the considerations I made was to consider the level I currently have and I think it is still good. If I wasn't competitive anymore or didn't believe I could be competitive next season, I might as well quit.I had an 11-season career in the pros, so at the base there must be the awareness of being competitiveThere are certainly many young players who are going strong, the approach from the youth categories has changed. Juniors who pass and are competitive are the rule, while once there might have been a few exceptions and little more. Cycling is evolving; let's see if there's anything left to say.
Do you think it will be difficult to get back into racing?
Over the last four years I often found myself at the disposal of Philipsen, Van der Poel and GrovesBut even last season, I always had a few days off. The instinct to compete will have to be reawakened, the important thing will be to be ahead and regain some feeling. But above all, you will need your legs. These are mechanisms that also follow the daily conditionsWhen you feel good, you make fewer mistakes.
Have you started training again?
From this week I started again with a little gymThen I'll go on some bike rides, maybe depending on the weather, on a mountain bike or road bike. A couple of weeks of gentle reactivation and from the end of November we will resume longer training sessions, until the retreat in DecemberI don't know if I'll find any teammates to train with, for sure. I will have the opportunity to get to know them well during the retreatBut with the warehouse in Tuscany, it won't be difficult to meet up even outside of the races.
