Bennati says that the list of men for Zurich It was quite long. He waited for the Vuelta and the Canadian trials. And at that point, With the European Championships now closed, he refined his search and pulled out the nine names for the World Cup on September 29thBagioli. Cattaneo. Ciccone. Frigo. Rota. Tiberi. Ulissi. Zambanini. Zana. One of them will be a reserve.
In these days a post by Alberto Bettiol confirms that the Tuscan has withdrawn from the fray. Even though he had also gone to see the route, Alberto felt he didn't have the right legs, he talked about it with the coach and in the end he gave up. An example for all riders, Bennati makes clear, which perhaps comes from his own words when we faced together the analysis of the Paris race.
"A 100 percent Bettiol," Bennati reasons, "is always useful in a national team. I appreciated his reasoning, which can be an example for anyone who finds themselves in a similar situationAfter this step, the team was born. There's no designated captain. There are some important riders, and it's a cohesive and ambitious team.More or less everyone can aspire to do something good, as long as we're united and have a clear goal. We'll have to run as a team, and I hope we'll be able to entertain people. We can't afford to wait for the finale when the big guns are moving…».
Indeed, thinking of challenging Pogacar, Evenepoel, perhaps Van der Poel and maybe Roglic might seem like an undertaking…
I think it'll be difficult to utilize everyone in the attacking phase. We'll see how things unfold, but maybe some will have to sacrifice themselves early and others will find themselves waiting for the finale. I think Tiberi and Ciccone could try to hold the last or the penultimate lap, when the strong ones will moveIn a dry situation like a one-day race, they don't go much slower uphill.
So we'd like to ask you to explain your choices: Bagioli, for example. He's perhaps the classics man of all, but this year he didn't shine...
It's true, the results weren't on his side. Then, as had already happened at my first World Cup, I gave him Canada as his last testIn 2022 he finished third in Montreal, and this year he was equally strong. He didn't place, but everyone told me he was going strong and above all easy. He's come out on top. I spoke to him a month ago. I asked him if he'd given up or if he thought he'd be there for the season finale, and he told me he was motivated. That's why I felt like giving him my trust, because I think he is an important rider for this type of raceHe's strong uphill and of all the riders I've called up, certainly along with Diego Ulissi, he's the fastest.
Let's talk about Diego, then, and the usual story that fades away in long races.
In my opinion we don't need to think about it anymore. Diego is 35 years old, he is more mature and I think there is always a first time to prove you are up to it. And then let's say something about the World Cup we did together: He was among those called first of all to open the race, anyone would have been tired at the endThis morning I read that Ulissi will be captain, but let's clarify the term. The captain isn't necessarily the one who gets results. Diego will be the captain in this World Cup, the playmaker running alongside Cattaneo. But I think we can use him in various ways: as a playmaker, for example, and as a striker from mid-match onwards. Ulissi in the right breakaway can worry more than just one opponent. And then a few years ago he also won in Canada.
At the Tour of Luxembourg, we're seeing Tiberi on form. Is there a tough stage today that could be a good test for Zurich?
First of all, I think it's right that Tiberi is at this World Cup. Especially in perspective, it is right that you gain experience and begin to savor this type of emotions.Also because, considering next year's World Championships, in Rwanda the race will be at altitude and it could be a challenge between those competing in the Grand Tours. But be careful, This year he won't be coming to make an appearance, I count on him being among the protagonists.
Zambanini was the best Italian in both Canada trials. What role do you imagine him in?
The same thing applies to him as to Tiberi. He's a young rider and this year he's had a solid season, he's been strong from the start and he's still going very well.I think he's reaching his peak form, and it seemed right to me to push him. We don't know how far he can go. He had some results as a young player, but he was definitely not among the strongest. He is living a gradual growth that I like and as a guy I think that's very valid.
So now let's talk about Ciccone, who withdrew from the Vuelta and then we never saw him again...
He retired because he had a pain in my knee, but after a few days off it went away againWe've always stayed in touch. Giulio has always been super motivated for this World Championship. Obviously, we don't have feedback from the competitions, but he told me he prefers preparing for such an important event by training rather than going for a run. And in fact he is doing a great job with BartoliHe didn't go to altitude because there wasn't the technical time, so he trained at home.
Rota is another in the same situation: he also retired from the Vuelta, then flew to Canada. We remember the great World Championships in Wollongong...
Rota will be in Zurich because I'm sure he's motivated, and I trust what he tells me. He's proven that to me in recent years. At the Vuelta he was going well but unfortunately he fell and also had pain in his knee.He had a week of recovery, he retrained and went to Canada. He wasn't brilliant, he didn't finish at the front like Bagioli, but He is in improving condition and I think he is a solid rider for this type of competition. I believe he can fulfill the role I give him, as he always has. He is one of my trusted men. and I wanted to trust him again this year.
Compared to the previous meetings, which were based on guidelines, it seems that much of the process now relies on dialogue and shared preparations.
Yes, there needs to be a lot of dialogue because From this point of view, cycling has changed, thanks to new training methods. It's difficult for me too because I come from another period in which riders needed to do more preparatory races to prepare for the event. I had a hard time getting into this mindset, but now objectively things work like thisIt's also subjective. Bettiol belongs to a generation a little closer to mine and needs to run before getting to the appointment. Instead Most of those who are here now and are younger, prefer to run less and prepare better.
What role do you imagine for Cattaneo?
I can play it in various ways. Maybe he can't give me a guarantee of results, but to shoot or get into a breakaway and help a teammate, he can do the work of two. Mattia is going particularly strong, also because this year he was stopped for a long time and now he's full of energy. He did very well at the Vuelta and I am convinced that at the World Cup he will be a truly fundamental player for the whole groupHe's an experienced rider, he sees the race and knows how to manage many situations that are part of his repertoire because he's used to working for great champions. Marco Frigo, also returning from the Vuelta, could move alongside him.He's someone who isn't afraid to work hard and we've seen that he also knows how to get into breakaways.
And then there's Zana, who you brought to your first World Cup out of respect for the Italian jersey, even attracting some criticism.
If he finds the right day, Pippo can get to the front. At the Vuelta he did a nice second stage, but I expected him to try again. At the end of the Vuelta, I wasn't so sure about calling him up, until I spoke to Pinotti, who is his trainer. I told him that I would have liked to see him in a race after the Vuelta, to understand if he had really come out of it well.. And so at the last minute they put him in at Matteotti and everyone confirmed to me that he made two good runs. He came back on an action in front and then gave the sprint to De Pretto, but... I wasn't looking for the result but rather for confirmation that the condition was there..
Last but not least, they'll once again be running without radios. Your role essentially ends with the morning meeting and the little information you can provide them...
Not having the radio at the Europeans, seeing them do what we had decided not to do and not being able to intervene was frustrating. Not being able to give real-time directions is depressing for me.I'm convinced that having the radio and guiding the team in real time against a rider like Pogacar would already be difficult, but at least it would give you the peace of mind of being there. Because in certain situations it's not just a question of legs, but also of convictionYou can seize the moment or manage situations that you can't manage from the ground, nor even change. You can put whoever you want along the way, but what are you communicating to them? The time, the gap, or when you're a minute late, do you tell them to go full speed ahead to get back? These are messages that more or less leave things as they are.You can do something, but it's always very complicated.
When are you leaving?
On Thursday we will be in Lomazzo, in the province of Como. Let's take a stroll in the afternoon and the next day we go up the highway.
