Pellizotti himself told us this in his last interview on Antonio Tiberi: Caruso and Pasqualon are excellent references for young Italians Bahrain VictoriousIn 2023 there were 4 young people: Milan, Tiberius, Zambanini e Tumblers. Next season he will leave Milan and arrive Ugly messMany young people at the beginning of their careers can interact with those who have a lot of experience in the group.
Pasqualon is on vacation these days. The 35-year-old from Veneto has been accustomed to being a point of reference for years, and being one for the young players on his team has been almost natural.
«Caruso and I – Pasqualon tells us – We give advice because young riders trust usWe often take them out for a walk in the evening, as happened during the retreat at Foscagno. We take them around the lake, it's a way to let them escape and get in touch with us.».
Power and head
But what are these young people most curious about? Where do they need support most? And conversely, in which areas do they feel ready? The world of cycling has grown a lot and riders are increasingly monitored, but not everything goes through tests and checks.
«They are very interested in nutrition – explains Pasqualon – in how to manage it, whether to do a longer recovery or a few more hours of trainingCompared to when we started, cyclists are now supported much more closely. We have a nutritionist, trainer, dietitian, mechanics... Once upon a time, young riders asked you for more things, now they turn to the right peopleBut the psychological aspect has increased, that is, how one experiences running. For example in Belgium in our team villa Mohoric and I take the youngsters and watch the races together: we show them where the highlights are, where they can rest and everything else."
You raced the last Monument Classic of the season with Tiberi, Buratti, and Zambanini. How did it go?
The night before the Lombardia I was in a room with Tiberi, with whom I also shared a room at the Tour de Pologne. He is a very smart person, who asks questions and has the ability to listen.He has a great engine, in my opinion he is one of the most interesting prospects for the future in stage races. One aspect that struck me positively is that before the Lombardy it was calmHe didn't give the race much importance, even though he was one of the top riders. I call Tiberi "crazy horse"—he's a fun-loving guy. In Livigno, he was the first person who wanted to go out one more night. He has so much energy and I understand that, but as a rider you also have to learn to say no.
Life in training camp can be difficult for a young rider…
That's why we, the more experienced ones, are here to help them stay focused. I made it clear to Tiberi that once he's achieved a goal, which in the case of his withdrawal in Livigno would have been the Vuelta, he can then relax for a moment. Now in cycling everything makes the difference and living the life of a rider really counts a lot for the final resultBut Tiberi has the right attitude, that of a true champion.
That?
The champion, someone like Pogacar to be clear, lets everything go: he lives the life of a rider, but he doesn't let it overwhelm himYou always see him with a smile, even after second place at the Tour he was calm. He went to Vingegaard and shook his hand, he never got angryHowever, he always emerged from these defeats with more determination, so much so that he won his third consecutive Lombardy championship.
An attitude, that of being more serene, that Buratti and Zambanini don't have?
Zambanini is more square than Tiberi and thinks a lot about the bike, perhaps too much: he is really dedicated to cyclingBefore a classic he's much more tense, he thinks about it a lot, he's a much more emotional boy than the other two. If a race doesn't go as expected, we feel disappointed, even beyond measure.The right compromise would be a middle ground between Zambanini and Tiberi.
Buratti, who arrived mid-year, how did he fit in?
Good, very good. He's a smart guy who listens to advice, when you tell him something he understands immediately. He is also calm and peaceful, al Lombardia I've seen it go very well, and he was also ready in Belgium at the start of the season. Bahrain's great strength is the teamWe are very united and this was also noticed at the Giro d'Italia.
In what sense?
Buratti and Tiberi weren't there, but we had other young players with us: Zambanini, Milan, and Buitrago. Speaking with Damiano we said that it was one of the best Giro d'Italias, where we created a super-united group. In fact, it was no coincidence that we won the team classification.
In short, newcomer Bruttomesso can rest easy. Is Bahrain the right environment?
Absolutely. I've seen him a few times with the national, the last time at the European Championship. We'll have a chance to get to know each other and talk, but I'm sure he'll get along just fine. We have the right atmosphere in our team, with the mix of young and experienced players you hardly make mistakes and it shows.
Thanks also to you and Caruso.
You also have to be able to put the team's best interests first, and Damiano and I were able to do that. During the Vuelta he was an important point of support for everyone, as I was at the Line of BusinessIt's right that riders like us teach young people, but not everyone has the character to do so.
