While his brother Elia prepares the new European campaign in Monaco, hunting for other starred satisfactions on the track and replacing the injured Nizzolo on the road, Attilio Viviani enjoys some rest in his first season on Belgian soil, at Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB. Some time ago, when the contract was still to be signed (which happened on March 21st), the Venetian rider had preferred not to respond, a symptom of a troubled soul following the unexpected and premature closure of the Cofidis team in which he had placed so many hopes.
Now the situation is very different and there is a positive predisposition towards the future: «I must say that in the end I found an ideal accommodation for my characteristics and my way of understanding cyclingI was lucky, but certainly the winter was difficult, full of uncertainties and I have to say thank you to Elia and my agent Lombardi if they managed to keep me calm and confident, while still making me work towards a new landing."
Did Elijah personally do his part for you?
Tvery old, with many contacts in the environment, sounding out the situation, as did Lombardi who never stopped working to find me a new contract. Starting at the end of March is not easy, but I immediately felt at ease with the team., although clearly I was late compared to those who had done the pre-season retreat.
How do you rate this first part of the season?
Overall it was positive. The team has the way of running that I like, always on the attack, always on the run, moreover in a type of racing between France and Belgium that I have always loved. The team also gave me a lot of freedom, especially on occasions when Timothy Dupont was not there. who is the team's main sprinter.
You have 27 days of competition so far: a lot or a little?
Well, I'd say that between March and June the schedule was intense, also because there were never more than 3-4 days off and so you never gave up, you always had to stay on top of things. But I have to say that I've really enjoyed these three months. I was tired by the end, so I got to the Italian language level and then I gave up. I left again from Sazka Tour I'd been lined up there, expecting the first sprint, which turned out not to be a sprint. I'd just come from the high-altitude training camp and my legs weren't ready for the whole stage race, so we decided to give up before the hardest stage.
What's your schedule now?
There will be the Poitou-Charentes Tour and then in September all the one-day classics of the Italian scene. I hope that between now and the end of the season, a good opportunity will arise to make my mark…
An opportunity you had at the end of April in Greece…
Yes, that second place still gnaws at me… I want to go back to those sensations, to see the finish line again and possibly not to see pieces of other people's wheels between mine and that thin strip… I am strongly determined to succeed.
Does the contract end this year?
Yes, we haven't discussed the renewal yet, but I don't have that problem. The team environment is ideal, the budget available is not very large, but nothing is really missing. Above all, I like the mentality that reigns in the team., is the ideal one to express myself best.
The only other Italian on the team is Tizza. Have you bonded with the other guys?
Very good, this is also what encourages me to continue this adventure. Often we don't realise that a team is strengthened not so much in the race, but outside it., in contacts outside of racing, perhaps talking about something completely different. Then the benefits are seen with the racing jersey on.
How do you find living in Belgium?
Well, maybe it's because I've noticed that Belgians are a bit crazy, with a similar mentality to ours. I really feel at home…
