To draw maximum advantage from the competition without taking unnecessary risks. Ultimately, this is what he wanted for his Azzurri. Davide Cassani, accompanied by Marco Villa, Mario Scirea and the rest of the staff, when he inserted the Italian Cycling Week in the calendar leading up to TokyoAnd now that the four Italian musketeers (Gianni Moscon, Giulio Ciccone, Alberto Bettiol and Damiano Caruso, the latter wearing the Bahrain Victorious jersey) have left Sardinia, he can certainly say he is satisfied.
Ganna Train
Sure, if Elia Viviani (then 4th) had found the right spark on the straight of via Diaz, under the steps of Bonaria in Cagliari, everything would have been even more perfect, but certain synchronisms are not easy to find and Gianni Moscon and Filippo Ganna have done their work as trailblazers with great care.
«It was well driven – said Marco Villa at the end of the stage, after having spoken to us – Maybe Filippo was going too fast and put him in a bit of difficulty compared to his usual last manLet's say he was a special last man. But I'm happy for Elijah, his legs are heavy because he's done a lot of work, but he's finding himself again».
Cassani satisfied
Elia will remain on the island until the last stage, as Jonathan Milan, who despite his twenty years has thrown himself into the fray contesting Pascal Ackermann's victory until the last centimetre, a victory that was only confirmed by a photo finish and by a matter of centimeters. The road racers designated for Tokyo, however, completed their three days without damage, which included many "trains", some uphill variations, and a good surface: «This is what was needed to finalize the work done at altitude in Livigno.", Cassani summarized, satisfied. The only setback (a fall in the final 13 kilometers from Cagliari) involved a non-Olympic Italian, the unfortunate Fausto Masnada, who arrived with torn shorts (At the end of the stage he was taken to the Emergency Room of the University Hospital of Cagliari for first aid and in the morning he returned to Milan with a diagnosis of a non-displaced fracture of the S3 sacrum vertebra).
Good mood Bettiol
In three days good placings have arrived (Bettiol's second place in Sassari above all) and awareness of one's own abilities has grown in view of the Olympic test on a course with a significant difference in altitude. Of course, the national football team raised the bar by winning the European Championship, and those who wear the blue jersey must give their all: «Our jersey in Tokyo will be white but we will try to give our best anyway – joked Bettiol, summarizing – I can say that I am more satisfied at the end of these three days than when I arrived».
So much blue
That's enough. Giulio Ciccone raised hell on the climb, as did Gianni Moscon and was precious in the final in Sassari; Bettiol himself tried to play as a finisher in Oristano and Caruso has always been in the thick of operationsEveryone took advantage of every opportunity to improve their conditions, to “work”.
«I'm satisfied, it was a block of work that was needed in view of Tokyo – confirmed Moscon – we didn't come here to win, of course if the result had arrived so much the better, but we did a good job. Everything according to plan: the race had the utility it was supposed to have.».
The Week continues
The work will continue in Japan (together with Vincenzo Nibali): we will quickly try to neutralize the negative effects of the long journey and find physical adaptation. Outings on the road are expected to last around four hours. The Italian Week continues with the final stages, both starting and finishing in Cagliari, on the flatlands. Leader Diego Ulissi holds a 6" lead over Sep Vanmarcke and Giovanni Aleotti.
