Davide Martinelli has already sent the suitcase to Poland on Thursday, destination Poznan, the starting point of the 80th Tour of Poland. Astana-Qazaqstan he has assembled a young team, in which some experience has been introduced, including that of the player from Brescia (in the opening photo at the team presentation on Friday).
«I just returned from the heights – he told us shortly before leaving for Poland – I spent about fifteen days in the Brescia areaI'm back racing after a month's absence (the Baloise Belgium Tour, his last race, ended on June 18, ed.). We are now well into the season, so once I get back to running, the sensations will be different than those in training."
It was said that I could do the Tour de France as part of the train of Cavendish...
It was a very remote hypothesis that had been discussed with the team. The truth is that it wasn't an exclusion, I didn't expect to participate in the Tour“Cav” has its own hard core of trusted men, it's difficult to fit in.
Are you in Poland to prepare for the Vuelta?
It's a really tough race, where the team is always decided at the last minute because you have to make do with your remaining energy. The heat doesn't drive me crazy and at the Vuelta it is very, it may not be an optimal situation.
It risks being a season without any Grand Tours, are you disappointed?
Not too much. There are many races, even week-long ones, just like the Tour de Pologne, which helps to put together many days of racingA major Giro is certainly an important showcase, but it also brings with it a lot of stress and considerable mental and physical fatigue. It really pushes you to the limit.
At 30, what kind of rider do you feel you are?
Someone who gives support and contribution to the team, In every group there are leaders and those who help them perform at their bestI spent the first part of the season alongside the captains of our team. I've found myself to be a rider with a good eye., even at Quick Step, at the beginning of my career I had this role.
You like?
In the group there are the leaders and the last men, then there is a universe behind which is that of the gregariousThose who do the “dirty work”, they go to get the water bottle in the team car, they pull from the first kilometers, they are not seen on TV.
In the Grand Tours, with full live coverage, yes.
It's true, there is an opportunity there, but I'm not running to show myself at homeSports directors see all aspects of the rider, both when he is on the bike and when he is not racing.
What kind of rider are you away from racing?
I like to be supportive of young people, help them grow and in particular I like to give support to my teammates, giving a few words of comfort when needed. Let's say that with the figure of my father (Giuseppe Martinelli, ed.), led me to already have the mentality of a sports director (laughs, ed.).
Were you sorry you couldn't be at the Giro to enjoy Cavendish's victory?
Being part of the team when you collect something is nice, you receive that “thank you” that comes from the bottom of your heart and you feel goodThis year it happened to me with Lutsenko atUAE Tour, he won on a very hot day. I was there for him, bringing him water bottles, ice... The post-stage happiness is something that stays with you.
And for the victory of “Cav” in Rome?
You are part of the team even when you are not directly competing. When one of my teammates wins I'm always happy. The victory of Velasco Valencian style is an example. We were on the other side of the world, at the Saudi Tour. The happiness we felt in knowing of his success was the same as what we would have felt being there.
You said you get along well with young people, there are many of them in Astana, even Italians…
I like to share my experience with them. At the beginning of the year I went on retreat with garofoli, even before the official team retreat. We cycled together and talked a lot, I like to help them because I don't want them to repeat my mistakes. When you're young you have a lot of euphoria and you want to overdo it, instead you have to be able to stop every now and then.
What days were those together with garofoli?
We were together before the Calpe retreat, I knew we would be cycling a lot once in Spain, so during the days we spent together I advised him not to overdo his training. Runners are stubborn, all of them, and sometimes they think you're working against them, you have to be good with wordsI told you, I already have a bit of a sports director mentality.
The interview with Davide Martinelli ends with another laugh. The Tour de Pologne starts today and the Brescian will be alongside many young riders, ready to say a word for them…
