First, Alessandro Fancellu. Second, Simone Raccani. The JCL Team UKYO he broke the bank Tour of Japan and for the entire staff it was the completion of a job. Of course, we're not talking about a WorldTour event, but the general manager Alberto Volpi he closes with a simple statement any objection regarding the level of the race: «Ours is a Japanese team and for us, starting from the ownership, It's like the Giro d'Italia for an Italian team or the Tour for a French team. Everything is at stake, starting with prestige."
Domination all week
Just back from the Land of the Rising Sun, still with the after-effects of jet lag, Volpi takes stock of an edition dominated by the team and which represents a bit of a watershed towards the future: «We were called to do our best and we honored it as best we could.Three stage victories with the two Italians plus our Eritrean Zeray, double in the standings. Was there a fundamental difference between us and the others? Perhaps, but you also have to put that difference in writing.
How did you organize yourselves for the Japanese race? "We had put together a team based on the 2024 experience because the route hadn't changed, the same stages. In the second day we attacked all day aiming at Fancellu, the same on the fourth day with RaccaniThen there was the Mount Fuji stage, and there we followed two directives. On the one hand, protect the top two riders, on the other, leave the road open for Zeray, who we knew could make the difference. In the end, we took home the full haul."
No picks from the pits…
It's clear, however, that a situation like this, with two men from the same team leading the way, required decisions for the decisive leg. Was there a strategy for who should win? "A strategy, yes, but not for the winner. Let me explain: The final stage of Mount Fuji had many unknowns. In the morning we asked ourselves what was best to do and we said clearly that the road would decide the winner between the twoFor us, it was an ideal situation because in the unfortunate event that one of the two riders gave up, the other was ready to take over, while Zeray could aim for the stage. We made absolutely no decisions regarding the classification, we said instead that the one with the most legs should simply winIn the end they played it out, Fancellu finished 2nd at 6”, Raccani 4th at 36”».
For Alessandro Fancellu, was this victory a wiping out of everything that had happened to him since he turned pro? "Let's say that, regardless of the final victory, I see him more at peace than when he arrived with us. He clearly needed a welcoming environment, where we could trust him.On the other hand, our team has all the necessary reference figures and Alessandro has found the right support, even on a psychological level."
The importance of the environment
Volpi had kind words for the Como native, also drawing on his extensive experience as a rider: "We all know he had the resources, but that's not enough to emerge as a pro; you also have to settle in, find the foundations. In these three or four years, despite having been on important teams, he wasn't able to express himself. Here he has an environment that is more attentive to his needs, but this was the case for Malucelli, Carboni, Pesenti, all riders who are now in the WorldTour and Alessandro knows he can follow the same path, if he does well."
For Raccani, the situation is a little different: «In some ways, it's simpler. When he did his internship at Quick Step he fractured his humerus and this stopped him. He moved to Polti but he hadn't recovered yet e then when he moved to Zalf, which was a team with a huge tradition, he felt relegated. He needed confidence, to bring out what is inside him, even with an appropriate schedule. I see that he's growing week after week, the same future considerations made for Fancellu apply to him."
A mix that works
Considering the results, is it possible to expand the Italian squad? "That's a tricky question. We're a Japanese team created to develop local players. As soon as I arrived, I made it clear right away that we had to proceed in two directions.: to welcome and develop the best Japanese talents, but to pair them with experienced European people capable of delivering results, because only this mix could guarantee the team's future. So we need figures who can guarantee performance in European competitions, as well as in the Asian ones which have a necessarily lower level".
So how's the search for young Japanese going? Is the overall level rising? "The problem in that case isn't finding talented kids because there's a very, very large pool of talented players. However, not everyone is ready to take a gamble on themselves and move to Europe for a long period of time., given that we plan at least two long periods of competitions during the season, staying in Brianza in the spring and then in August-September. For us, finding young people who accept is the most important challenge..."
