KIGALI (Rwanda) – Landing on African soil next to Giulio Ciccone brought a smile to our faces. The Abruzzese can't make peace with airplanes And if we told you what he does before each trip, you'd probably smile too. The fact remains that At ten o'clock this morning, September 24th, Giulio arrived in Rwanda and on Sunday he will be the captain of the Italian team world.
He spent his last days in Abruzzo. After the Vuelta he said goodbye to his grandmother Lucia, who had been ill for some time.He did some good training, but above all he thought about recovering after a two-speed Vuelta. The supersonic one up to the day of the Estacion de Esqui de Valdezcaray and that of antibiotics to recover from the inflammation of the saddle and the ailment that has afflicted almost all the riders in Spain.
"When I get off the plane," he said shortly before boarding the last flight from Addis Ababa to Kigali, I go to bed and sleep until lunchtime, I didn't sleep a wink last night. Then I'll do a three-hour bike ride in the afternoon and I'll be fine. I was supposed to leave tomorrow, but I have heard of colleagues who have had problems adapting to the heat and the altitude, which apparently it makes itself felt. And so I moved it forward by a day."
You were captain last year in Zurich too, but this year everything seems different…
I'm better. Last year I didn't run the whole Vuelta, I only did part of it, then I got sick. And above all I did the Tour, so it was all... another preparation. Instead this year I did the altitude, then I did all the classics, San SebastianBurgos, the Vuelta, so my condition was definitely better. Then there was the antibiotics issue. I took them for a week, but during the Vuelta, so I had time to recover. In the last few days at home the feelings were very good, the numbers convincing.
Does training in Abruzzo have a different flavor?
I always like it a lot, I'm from Abruzzo and proud of it. But I have to say that In the summer I also train very well in Monaco, there are more hills and different climates. But it's also nice to ride the streets I grew up on.
You said that after the Vuelta there isn't much need to train.
Exactly, there was more recovery to do and then do some proper training, though the first few days were all about recoveryLet's say that the most difficult thing is that usually after a Grand Tour you are used to switching off especially mentally, instead with the World Cup so close you can't get away with anything. So let's say that maybe it's more mental stress than physical stress.
Villa told us that after the World Championships you won't be competing in the European Championships, because the calendar includes the Giro dell'Emilia and Lombardia.
The calendar is that one, but let's see: I want to think about Sunday, I want to empty everything on Sunday and then we'll see what's leftI was also thinking about Emilia. If everyone really goes to the European Championships, if you win, they'll tell you there were no opponents. It wouldn't be so nice.
How have you found yourselves with coach Villa so far?
Very good. I have to tell you the truth: we hit it off right away. I liked his way of working, especially the human side.. The most important part for me was the fact that want to create a groupA united, strong group, made up of people who know each other, who are friends. In my opinion, this is the most important key. It's a fact that we don't have a Pogacar in the team, but What can make the difference in our case is creating a group like it was done in the national teams of the past. In my opinion this was missing and Marco did an excellent job.
Is it true that you spoke to each other and framed the men together?
They told me that Ballerini also moved like this. He told me he wanted to bet on me and that he would bring Pellizzari (Unfortunately, the other Giulio was sidelined by a stomach virus, and Garofoli will be taking his place tomorrow.) Then he pulled out the list of men he'd written down, and we discussed it together. It's a burden for me, but it motivates me greatly.
Masnada's summons suggests your desire to have a true friend by your side.
Speaking of trusted men, several names came to light. And whoever has seen Fausto well, like me who has often been next to him, has seen that he has a good levelYou could see he was pedaling well, that he was back to his normal level. And since I know him very well, I know he's a team player and everyone knows him well, We wanted him with us because he can be a key player in the race.
How much confidence did winning San Sebastian give you?
A lot, especially for one-day races. However, in three-week stage races it is a fact that for physical reasons I am unable to finishIt's not a question of condition or belief, even if Michele (Bartoli, his coach, ed.) believes in it. After 8-9 days my body gives up, it's always happened. So I think I need to make better use of my characteristics. And today, data in hand, I feel better in the shorter races and in the classicsI use that motivation to start doing well.
Do you think Pogacar will want to avenge Evenepoel's overtaking?
Remco will have a lot of confidence, but sometimes trust can backfire. And when I saw that scene, I almost got nervous and I imagined what Tadej might have feltI feel like the competition will heat up soon and we'll have to be there with our group.
The first test of the route is scheduled for tomorrow. Today the latest arrivals pedaled for two hours, followed by Marino Amadori in the team carThe schedule was respected. Meanwhile, Masnada, who arrived two days ago, confirms that the circuit is truly tough. And that the cobbled section at the end, in particular, will be truly devastating.
