The conquest of the Giro di Campania, a three-stage race organised last week, has for Mirko Bozzola a special meaning. Not so much because it is the first stage race that the Novara native has won, but because it is his first success with the jersey of the Sc Padovani. Bozzola left at the end of last season I have to team up of Q36.5 precisely to become the point of reference for the glorious team that wanted to acquire new glory through him, also landing among the Continentals. But the first few months of the season didn't go as he and the staff had hoped.
"For me, this victory was a breath of fresh air," Bozzola admits. "It was really needed after a season with too much bad luck. It all started with pericarditis, which forced me to take 45 days off work to allow the inflammation to subside. It wasn't a joke; rest and attention were needed. So I had little time to prepare, to get back into shape, and above all, to get results. I couldn't even finish the first races in April, but little by little things got better, and in Campania, even without winning a single stage, I got back to being myself."
Your problem has deprived the team of the reference they needed…
It's true and I'm sorry, then there was also the injury to his arm Ursella which also took away the team's top sprinter. It was difficult to get a result in those conditions and I must say that the boys did well, achieving some important placings.The forwards and key players were missing, and even the strategies that had been planned at the start of the season were completely overhauled. Let's just say that things didn't go well for our team in the first few months; it's as if our season was just starting now.
It's true that the Giro di Campania had national significance, but what does it mean to you and to all of you?
It's a sign of rebirth, that injection of confidence that we needed, especially on the eve of the Giro NextGen. Above all, I needed to put a smile back on the faces of the staff who have always been there for me during the most difficult weeks. Now all that's needed is for Ursella, who is recovering, to regain her form and, above all, that little bit of luck that always helps win.
You've never been a ranking man...
And I'm not even now, but winning is always nice. I had prepared myself very well, thinking above all about the Giro NextGen, I went to train at altitude in Livigno, I came down just before the Campania race, ideal for preparatory purposes as there are no big climbs. In Livigno I worked hard following my trainer's instructions. Paul SlongoI also lost weight. And that helped me especially on the climbs. In the 4-kilometer time trial I finished 5th, the next day I joined the breakaway that decided the race, finishing second behind Leonardo VescoIn the last one, we managed the race. I'm not a general classification man, but I have good recovery skills between stages, and that helps me.
You gave up on a I have to team up, it's not an everyday thing…
Many people tell me that, while it may seem like a big step backwards, if you look closely, it isn't. I found a very well organized team, with a really qualitative calendar, the change was less marked than I thoughtI believe that all things considered the choice was the right one because I feel the team's trust in my performance and my role as team leader.
Now you're leaving for the Giro, what are your expectations?
We're very motivated to do well; that's kind of the team's target, at least for this first year and this first part of the season. We know we worked well physically and structured the team in the best way, the group has strengthened, we have done teamwork And the results have already been seen in Campania. I'm aiming for a few stages, especially the one in Acqui Terme, which I really like with its short, not-so-hard climbs. I even went to check out the final section of the route myself; after all, it's my home region, and I really want to do well there.
Does the fact that you've been away from racing for a long time also have positive aspects, in the sense of still having energy in your tank?
I hope so, I trust that the second part of the year will be lucky, that it will repay me for what I have lost. I certainly spent less than others and this is a reserve that can bear fruit. The season is long, and there are many international races to aim for. The important thing is to have a motivated group like ours.
Returning to the Giro, you'll be competing against many top international teams. You were part of a devo team. What will your teammates and the Italian teams in general be up against?
A different way of interpreting the race. We are mentally and culturally set on a race system made of bursts and counter-bursts that multiply as the finish line approaches, but When you race abroad you realise that everyone wants to stand out and so the races become tough right from the start. I've tried to work on this with my teammates, to help them understand the change in mentality: a good result starts precisely with this understanding.
