Valerio Accounts he answers the phone while he's on his bike, returning from one of the last training sessions before the Tour of ItalyThe wind is blowing through the microphone, and the Roman traffic is making it a bit difficult for him to get home, so he hangs up with a promise to speak to us soon.
“Five minutes and I’ll call back,” he promises us, so we wait for him. We had left Valerio while he was chasing the best condition for the Corsa Rosa, between one cough and another. The beginning of his adventure in Astana Qazaqstan Team It didn't go as expected, bad luck slowed him down a lot.
How did you prepare?
Now I feel much better, I'm starting to feel good, I won't get to 300 percent but I'm in great shapeI'm satisfied, the season that counts starts now, from the Giro onwards. I prepared well, I ran the Tour of Sicily and RomandyIn Switzerland I saw that I was pedaling well, but together with the team we decided not to push the pace unnecessarily, so I used the last stages to gain distance.
Didn't you go on the high altitude training camp in March with your other teammates?
My approach was not "canonical", given that I didn't run for a good couple of weeks between the end of Catalunya and the AmstelGoing to high altitude and then immediately going back to racing would have been counterproductive for my preparation for the Giro.
It's been a bit of an unlucky last few months for Astana…
Yes, but la victory of stage of Miguel Angel (Lopez, ed.) to Tour of the Alps it gave us morale. Then Astana is a team that sets its sights on the Grand Tours and we are really strong and all have excellent mountain skills.
Will you have a single leader?
It will likely be Lopez. He's someone who has proven to be strong when he's in shape, but he is not a rider who is certain of winning, like Pogacar or Froome in his prime. As a result, we second stringers will have our chances, considering that we also have Nibali…
You raced with him at the Giro di Sicilia, how is he?
He's fine, he told me that his feelings are goodHe feels ready. The problem is that the pace has increased steadily over the years, and it's not easy to stay competitive. At the Giro di Sicilia he was serene and sunny. He doesn't feel the pressure, otherwise he wouldn't have achieved the results we all know.
Will Vincenzo be allowed to move independently?
His experience allows him to read the race as best as possible and this will be useful for him and for usHe could act early or help Lopez in various phases of the race. Nibali is our "joker."
Since you're not one of the favorites for the final victory, you can run covered...
We won't have to always run, and that's a great advantage, especially for the flat stages. Not even having a sprinter, we will be able to run those sections more calmly., away from danger and stress.
You, Lopez, and Vincenzo prepared for the Giro differently.
Everyone has their own preferences, except for me, who, as I said, had no races so I made a slightly more forced approach. Lopez preferred to do the Tour of the Alps (opening photo) and Nibali has decided to race at home in the Giro di Sicilia, but they are all excellent races to put miles in your legs…
Speaking of Sicily, the fourth stage will be challenging, with the arrival on Etna after a day's journey back from Hungary.
It will be an important first test, there's no need for any further discussion. You will have to pedal and the road will immediately give you the first answers, positive or negative.Leaving Hungary doesn't excite me much, a long journey for just three stages and then we start again immediately with a tough stage, but we don't decide and then it will be the same for everyone.
It's a Giro with few time trials, which is good for Lopez, but not so good for Vincenzo...
True, that's why the team didn't bring any specialists. Personally, I didn't even prepare very well for the time trials. I don't know about the others...
Are you worried that you haven't raced Lopez this season?
No, we are professionals, even though we ran side by side with different teams for many yearsI know how Lopez behaves in a group and you don't need to go on a retreat together to get to know each other. Also because there are too many differences between being on top of Teide or at the GiroIn training camp, you're relaxed, calm, and joke around; in competition, you're not. Consequently, everything changes, both emotionally and technically.
Yours is a pragmatic vision…
I am like this, sure of myself and my companions, This vision and my way of doing things have allowed me to do the Giro many times (also wearing the pink jersey for 6 stages in 2019, ed.) I'm a team player who knows how to put everyone at ease, I know how to create the right environment for everyone to feel good.
Even a hot-headed character like Lopez?
Actually, they told me that deep down he is calm, it needs to be treated as if we were familyYou don't necessarily have to create an overly "professional" environment.
When are you leaving for Budapest?
Today (Tuesday for those reading this, ed.) I have a flight at 22 pm and off I go! I'll be traveling alone, I'm used to it.
Sometimes it's better to have more time to think, Have a good trip!
True. And… thank you!
