SCARPERIA – Last year's World Cup left in Australia the question of what would have happened if Bettiol had left with EvenepoelUnfortunately, the Belgian's advance was so striking that its significance was not immediately appreciated and when instead it was clear that he was destined to win, it was too late by nowCertain images remain in your head to the point that Bennati himself, when introducing the national team, had to take them into account.
«The same favorites – said the Italian coach – often and willingly open the race with 80-100 kilometers to go. If we think we can get ahead of them, we should be on the attack right from the start.We know very well that that wouldn't be the best tactic, but the right idea will come, I'm convinced it will. I still have to think about it carefully in these two days, I will trust the instinct I had last year and I hope to have it this year tooThe most difficult thing will be to convey it to the team, because then There are kids on the bike and they must have the instinct, not having the ability to communicate in real time. But, anyway, we will equip ourselves..."
Giro and then Tour
Bettiol returns to the World Cup as an Italian striker, after three months of… forced labor at the Giro and then at the Tour, having had to skip the classics. And if on the Italian roads the best form was a state in the process of being completed, at the Tour some allergy problems got in the way and slowed down his ambitions. Despite this, Poligny's eighth place and then the good performance last Saturday in San Sebastian they say the planets are finally aligning.
«I miss everything except the rhythm – he smiles, perched on a stool – I felt it more than in training the benefits on Saturday in the raceI've been fine, so in these days before the World Championships I don't need to ride behind the bike, I don't have that need. I hope everything goes well. Everything will definitely go well. We will run as a team, we will definitely help each other and then at the right time I hope to have the best legsI hope I have a bit of luck, that everything goes smoothly and that I catch the right train."
In the space of two answers, a little while ago, you first talked about the right tactics and then about knowing how to follow your instincts.
As a tactic, I mean having an idea to share all together. First of all, this idea must come to us from Daniele bennati, who will then have the opportunity to tell us his vision of the raceBut we cannot predict what will happen, because the circuit is very technical and with many curves. Especially if it rains, it will be much more open. So we We will have to have very clear ideas, regardless of what happens during the race.
In short, a tactical idea and the instinct to manage the unexpected?
Quite simply, our strength must be running as a team. I mean always be numerically superior to other national teams. Make a very conservative first part and then, as soon as you enter the circuit, each of us, regardless of the captain's rank we will be given, will have a fundamental role. This is what happens in all monument races. All World Cups are won as a team., unless your name is Evenepoel or Van der Poel. But we as Italy we can't afford not to run as a team.
A path still to be discovered…
I only saw it in Bennati's videos, when he went with the other technicians. There are many curves, many relaunches: you will need to have rhythm in your legs.
Lots of curves, the risk of rain: will we also have to figure out the right bike setup?
From this point of view, I'm calm. Having tubeless tires I will inflate them a little less and the riding will change littleThe important thing when it rains is also technical clothing, but anyway in the national team it seems to me that we are well equipped with CastelliWe have the best products, the best mechanics, the best masseurs, the best athletic directors, the best organization. We certainly don't lack anything not even this point of view.
