LILLE (France) – A few days ago we told you about the eleven Italians at the Tour de France. Except for the various Tiberi and Pellizzari, who had already done the Tour of Italy and they knew they wouldn't be in the game in France, the big name that is missing from the roll call is that of Alberto Bettiol.
To tell the truth, he himself had already put the flea in the ear during the Giro, when in the Stage Trial, in Gorizia, Alessandro Fabretti asked Alberto if he would participate in the Grande Boucle. Bettiol was evasive. Others, however, had told us that the Tuscan would be heavily invested in the Tour. Alberto clearly knew something wasn't right. It was none other than the owner of the company who clarified everything. XDS-Astana, Alexandre Vinokourov.
Alex, so: why isn't Bettiol at the Tour?
It's because we decided not to bring it. Sport is like that. He's currently training at altitude in Livigno and will be there for a month. He'll be ready from the end of July until October. I spoke to him a lot and I can tell you that he tried until the end, but unfortunately he wasn't ready.
And how did you find it?
He was motivated, Because he knows that between now and the end of the season, he'll be able to get back to his level. And then, because he'll have plenty of opportunities.
But why wasn't he ready for the Tour then?
Because his season didn't start very well. He was ill during the Classics, then the same problems continued afterwards and so he missed the Giro. At that point, it was better for him not to participate in the Giro d'Italia and to go hunting for points. But it didn't work out the way we wanted. At the Four Days of Dunkirk he was still bad. From there he returned to the race at Tour de Suisse, almost a month later. I'm convinced that sooner or later he'll find form.
Clear…
A champion like him will certainly come back. If he manages to get a victory then everything will be easier for him. the other kids are doing well and this could help him.
Has Bettiol always trained well?
Yes, yes… Among other things, we follow our athletes well. Of course, Things don't always go as you want and according to plan. But I repeat, here we are, it's July and he's training well at altitude.
Will we see him at the Vuelta now?
No, no Grand Tours for Bettiol. La Return It's too hard for him. And then, as you know, we need stitches. Therefore we prefer to focus more on one-day races, especially with valid athletes like Alberto.
What will his program be?
He will return to Tour of Poland, then he will do the races in Belgium, the Renewi Tour, the Italian classics and maybe the Green Tour of Guangxi in the end.
Vino, you were a great athlete and you must have had your tough times too. As a former athlete, what did you tell him?
We need to look at morale. Then support it accordingly. And the cure is to train and believe in it. Because he certainly has the talent. Just get your head straight and go. I'm confident about the season finale. For sure.
A question of the mind?
“You just have to get your head straight.” A significant step forward. and increasingly important in this cycling that increasingly reduces missteps and margins of error. We have seen it with Gaudu and De Lie, just to name the last two on the list. Let's hope Bettiol can truly follow the path indicated by Vinokourov. He has all the credentials to do so.
When Vinokourov said, "The others are doing well," he wasn't being banal. Knowing that your teammates are competing says a lot. It means the training methods are sound, the materials are working... you just need to find the way to this positive spiral. Bettiol, nearby has expert people like Diego Ulissi which is an example. He has the talent. It's up to him to take the final step.
