Switzerland is a postcard, beauty comes to your face when you least expect it in the same way as, as soon as the slope of the climbs gets steep, the riders find themselves without legsCarì is located in the Ticino mountains at 1.655 meters above sea level, an enchanting place for excursions and winter sports. And it is precisely in a greener spot than others that Adam Yates, after yesterday's tasting, decides to attack. It is the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse and once again the UAE Team Emirates he took control of the race, sucking in the escapees.
«Today at the finish line the very first words that Adam Yates said to me – says Gianetti in seventh heaven – were: “My goodness, what teamwork!”He said it a meter after arriving, and not even thanking them, but telling me. The team did the job and he just finished it. This is a beautiful spirit, which I likeAdam and Joao Almeida are amazing guys. They are not only truly phenomenal riders, but very intelligent people who are really nice to work with».
Yates and behind Almeida
Yates attacks like the climbers of old: he doesn't know what high pedaling frequency is. When he gives the first broadside, the first to hold him is BernalThen the Colombian gives in and Mas closes in, until both are caught by Almeida. They continue like this, separated by a handful of seconds until the finish line. First Yates, second Almeida at 5″, third Bernal at 16″, fourth Riccitello at 18″, fifth Mas at 22″The scene of the two teammates almost side by side is reminiscent of the identical scenario at last year's Vuelta.
“We knew we wanted to set a fast pace,” the leader said. “The whole team worked really hard all day. At the beginning, Ineos tried to push us a bit on the first two climbs, so we had to reorganise. But then the guys were super strong. They controlled the breakaway, and then we set a great pace in the finale. Especially with Joao (Almeida, ed.), we were climbing really fast. And when the car told me he was coming back up, I turned around and almost thought I saw him pass byI know he's in great shape too, we came here as equal leaders. So it was a fantastic day for the team."
A mosaic called UAE Emirates
Meanwhile, tomorrow we will experience a scenario reminiscent of the Giro on the day in Livigno, but with due advance. The main stage cannot be held due to snow and a 42,5 kilometre stage will be proposed as an alternative.Despite the efforts, it was decided that even the alternative route planned for the main stage, via the Gotthard and Furka passes, was not feasible. The race will start from Ulrichen with the final climb of Blatten-Belalp, which could still lead to attacks. Gianetti is playing on home soil here, and once again, after the wonders of the Giro, he finds himself embracing the riders after a gigantic team effort.
«It's a satisfaction – he says – after years of meticulous construction. Piece by piece, like a mosaic, each little stone is part of the overall design.The staff, the athletic directors, the masseurs, the mechanics, the managers, the nutritionist, the chefs, the physiotherapists, the engineers, our partners… everyone! Everyone really does their part to make this mosaic a beautiful design. It's beautiful because it's the fruit of so much passion."
The secret of friendship
Yates is willing to put himself at Almeida's disposal, then everyone is at Pogacar's disposal at the Tour. How do you build such an understanding? Are high wages enough to dampen the ambitions of riders born to be champions? Gianetti listens. He was a rider. He knows what it's like when you have the fire of victory burning inside you.
«This is the thing I am most proud of – says the Team Principal and CEO of the UAE Team Emirates – because we built the team starting from young people. Perhaps one of the few grafts we went to the market for was Adam Yates.. But Almeida, Ayuso, Hirschi, McNulty, Bjerg, Del Toro and Pogacar himself are riders we have shaped, also in terms of friendship. We want every rider to have the opportunity to win right away, all our young riders have already achieved this this year.You're young, but you don't just have to work, and that gives them an incredible boost. You saw the kind of personality they worked with today, Christen, Del Toro and Mark Hirschi himself? We insist on this aspect every day, to ensure that the kids have respect for each other.So that everyone on this team has respect for each other. We have to be together every day from morning to night, even in double rooms: we have to get along.
«We want them to have a very open, proactive mindset. Not critical, but proactive because we want to improve. I want everyone to be able to bring something of their own. We are the best team in the world Because there are 140 people, including riders and staff, who do their best to help the team grow: themselves and the group. The riders feel this, they sense it. It's a club that we've built in a truly refined and detailed way. and I'm really very proud of it."
At the Tour for Pogacar
For this same reason they will go to the Tour to work for Pogacar: seven captains at the service of the most captain of all. How can you be sure someone isn't leaving with a dagger hidden under their shirt? Mauro smiles, the situation is under control.
«We have been clear since the beginning of the season – he smiles – indeed from before the rider signs the contract. “Do you want to come to us? Well, why do you want to come to us? What do you want from us as a team? We want this from you, but why do you want to come to us?” We want to understand if we are the right team for what you want" So it's important to clarify this aspect first of all. Then the season starts and In November Matxin does an extraordinary job, rider by rider, what their ambitions are and what they want to do.
«Okay, it's clear, al Tour There's Tadej and we work for him: this is obvious, so everyone knows it. And they know that if they want to find a chance to win, they will have to focus and identify the moment when they themselves will have the team at their disposal. It is the result of very careful planning and exhaustively discussed.Starting tomorrow, Yates and Almeida will run in parallel because obviously we're not running alone. There are many opponents who will try to attack, who will try to make the race tough, difficult, complicated. So obviously we'll have to race well, take advantage of this situation where we're leading the standings. And if one of us is better than the other in the end, we'll accept the situation very calmly."
