Filippo Gana started off more than well. The champion of the Ineos-Grenadiers he showed himself immediately super lively and not only for the two time trial victories, but also for the way he raced, for the air in his face and above all because Pippo arrived in front in an “uphill” finish, or at least one not really suited to his characteristics, and even threw himself into a sprint.
Departure as per tradition
Yet his sporting director and trainer, Dario David Cioni, does not seem at all surprised by this excellent start from the national Pippo.
«The fact that Philip did well it's not a surprise – says Cioni – We've been doing a good job starting out for two or three years now. In his first year with us, he won his first ever pro race at Provence. Last year, he won two stages at Besseges, the time trial and a road stage. It's now our habit to work hard during the winter, also because this lays the foundation for a good season. And trying to win something early also gives you peace of mind."
«The winter went well, without any problems, and the fact that he was in good condition, especially for time trials, is no surprise to me.»
Less runway? We're not kidding.
After seeing it tired in the post-World Championships in Roubaix, Ganna took his well deserved restAnd this allowed him to get back to work with the right mindset. With hunger.
After two sublime years, sealed by two world championship gold medals and the Tokyo Olympic gold medal, there could have been a slackening of nerves, but instead...
Perhaps this good start of his, even yesterday at UAE Tour was second, also due to the fact that this year, having no major commitments on the track, except for the world championships but at the end of the season, Pippo dedicated more time to the road.
«I'm not sure about Filippo doing less on the track – explains Cioni – because perhaps in terms of training he spent more or less the same number of days on the parquet as last year, which however was an Olympic year.
«We went to the track in Mallorca during the Ineos-Grenadiers training camp, he was in Montichiari and in Slovenia with the national team, so In my opinion, the fact that he was competitive right from the start is due to the fact that he continued to ride on the track.
«With Marco (Villa, (Editor's note) he's more or less always done the same workouts. They usually do two days of loading: the first is more focused on maximum power, the second on lactic acid resistance. He does some workouts with Villa in and out of the slipstream of the bike at race pace.
«In general – adds Cioni – I see him grown as a person, he is more convinced, he has more self-confidence and in any case he's lucky to have such a big engine! And even during the winter he's a guy who doesn't gain weight, which is why we found him already competitive."
Protagonist at Sanremo
A Ganna like this is something to dream about. This is the perfect time to see him at full strength in the classics. Two in particular: Milan-Sanremo e Paris-Roubaix.
With his peak power and his engine, he could even crush everyone on the Poggio, or even beat them. And Roubaix has been a hot topic for him for a while now, and only fatigue, as mentioned, kept him away from the cobblestones last year. Furthermore, let's remember that Roubaix was so close to the Track World Championships. The risk was too high.
"I think," Cioni continues, "we'll have to wait and see how the difference on the Poggio will pan out. We'll have to see how the race unfolds, what the tactical situation will be, the weather... it's hard to say right now. To play his cards, Pippo must certainly move and cannot wait for the final sprint. So he must be in a pre-selected group close to the finish line. Maybe he's not the one making the move, but simply following it.
«Or on the contrary he can make an action from afar and catch everyone a little off guard… But one thing is certain: I'm sure he will be one of the protagonists."
Like Cancellara?
A Cioni who launches these appeals does nothing but fuel the dream. In the end Cancellara He was a time trialist like him and managed to put Sanremo in the bag. And like the Swiss, the Piedmontese can also set his sights firmly on Paris-Roubaix.
«He will do E3 Harelbeke, Ghent-Wevelgem and Roubaix. The cobblestone classic had always been on his list this winter. In the past few years, it had never really happened. And that's why he didn't do it."
And even this last sentence sounds like a battle cry, especially considering the modus operandi of Ineos-Grendiers, which, when it sets a goal or plans a major event, does so with enormous precision. They may not achieve it, but they bring their athletes to fight in the best possible conditions. And a Pippo who fights on the cobblestones...
