"Well, what can I say? I spent a day getting my teeth kicked!" he sums up jokingly Samuel Zoccarato of his seasonal debut in Belgium.
The class of 1998 of Bardiani Csf Faizanè, yesterday at Nokere Koerse, he was sent up there to gain experience and maybe to try to get something, given that the numbers between tests and training say that he is one of the best guys in Roberto Reverberi.
Samuele, let's take stock of this start to the season. Let's start with yesterday...
It was a constant battle, for positions, for breaks... for everything. I spent four hours trying to squeeze through every hole, trying to get ahead. Then the course was also nervous and we weren't going slowly. I had some problems with the cobblestones. I suffered a lot from it and I don't understand why.
You're not a puny guy, though... Did you get the tire pressure wrong?
And in fact, last night we were talking about this very thing with the mechanics. Every time I entered the cobbled sections, I couldn't control the bike properly and ended up behind. With about seventy kilometers to go, I managed to catch a breakaway. We hit a cobblestone section and they roughly took me off the wheel. In fact, starting today we are changing something about the technical choices.
What?
Wider tires. Here we are using 28mm tubulars.
Tubulars, not tubeless?
In theory, tubeless should be better, especially on tracks like this. It's more comfortable and smoother, but a lot also depends on the rider. For example, Marcato he told me that Trentino prefers the tubular, although it also has tubeless tires available.
How is your first part of the season going?
I've almost finished the first block of races, although I actually have a lot left. It's mid-March and I already have 25 days of running in my legs, not counting cyclocross. I'm happy because the winter preparation was good: between the cross, the gym, and bike rides have really made me feel like my legs are ready, and my condition remains stable. Now, however, I'm starting to miss the gym a bit. For obvious logistical reasons, I haven't been able to go anymore.
And how will you do it? Are you thinking about recalls?
It's not easy because I'll be running a lot between Belgium, Holland and France: many races that will take me almost to the Line of Business Italy. Between Denain, De Panne, Schleprijse, Gent-Wevelgem, Brabant, Amstel… There are so many and I will finish in mid-April.
But you're at the heart of cycling, at university... You'll emerge stronger. Sorry to interrupt: let's get back to the gym...
I will try to do some bodyweight exercises in the various rooms of the hotels I stay in. Then a lot depends on what you want to do. It's clear that if you load a lot, it becomes complicated, because you can't do them before the race, nor the day after: it's not ideal for recovery. But if you do a little, even the day before the race is fine. Maybe. stimulation of muscles that you would otherwise not use, a sort of muscle activatione.
Samuele, you've listed many important races. From what we hear, you're one of the strongest riders in Bardiani Csf Faizanè. Do you feel this trust from the team?
Absolutely yes. I see they care a lot about meThey help me solve the little problems that arise. And compared to last year, they protect me more.
That?
For example, last year they told me to always go on the run, immediately. This year they're telling me to maybe push it forward at the end, so I don't waste energy for most of the race. It helps me try to achieve something, and that's important to me. Since I was little, I've never had the chance to achieve something. You also have to learn to win, or at least try.
True, that's a feeling too. Cancellara used to say that before winning the big races, you have to learn to win the small ones...
Al UAE Tour, Bruno (Reverberi, ed.) he told me not to go on the run, to try to get into the standings. And so I was able to run in a completely different way.
And how did it go?
Well, I was under a bit of pressure, I felt it, but I think I handled it well. I knew I had limitations and I was aware of how others were doing. If I saw us going up a hill and I was already 50 watts down, I knew I wasn't going to make it up with them. So I'd "let go" earlier. I'd try to pick up my pace. I'd go steady instead of exploding mid-climb.
As with the races in Belgium, these experiences make you grow, mentally and physically: push your engine a little further...
Al UAE There were two big climbs. One, the first, was easier to ride, 20 kilometers long, and another, a little tougher, 10 kilometers long. On the first, I dropped away from the leading group with 3 kilometers to go. There were about 20 of us left. I was happy, but of course, when they really open the throttle, there's no one left to beat. In the second one, however, I dropped out almost immediately. (opening photo, ed.) and I did it all in a comeback. And ironically, it went better than the first one. as a detachment. I've seen many of them explode on the street...
We mentioned the Giro: are you thinking of going?
We don't know anything officially yet, but I feel the trust and I think I deserve it.
