The commitment to Tour of Poland it's almost behind us. Salvatore puccino He took advantage of this not only to carry out his usual duties within the Ineos Grenadiers, but also to experience a few days at milder temperatures: «Before coming here I was at home in Monte Carlo and we cooked thereI had even given up on the training camp in Andorra, but those who went there told me it was very hot there too..."
Puccio has been a pillar of Ineos's sport. Since 2012, the year he joined the professional ranks, he has never changed his shirt, he already has a contract for next season in his pocket and he experienced all the team's transformations first-hand.
Not only in the name from Sky to Ineos, but also in the very essence of the team, which has gone from periods of absolute domination, especially in the Grand Tours, to those of fighting to the death even just for a place on the podium.
The Hayter brothers are so strong!
The team, fresh from third place at the Tour of Thomas who, like Puccio, is one of the team's seniors, is preparing his latest revolution. The rider from Menfi is unfazed, and his analysis begins with the latest acquisition, the young Leo Hayter.
«He is not a stranger to us, first of all because his brother is with us Ethan who is already very strong and is one of our strikers, then why He had already attended the training camp with us in Mallorca at the beginning of the season. His results didn't surprise us; he's a real talent., otherwise you don't win the Liège U23 like he did last year and above all you do what he did at Tour of Italy category, with the competition that was there".
The feeling is that Ineos is going back to the old ways: the decision to have another South American-led group alongside the English core is almost being reneged on with the loss of Carapaz and the arrival of young British talents like Leo Hayter…
The team has always had a strong English spirit, with a hint of nationalism perhaps more pronounced than for other WorldTour teamsPreviously, Sky was a multinational sponsor, now it's more focused on the domestic market. But it's nothing new. Even Italian teams at the beginning of the century were like that. This doesn't mean they don't look beyond their borders. I'm proof of that, and then, based on your value and what you can do, you find your place.
When you turned professional, was there still a strong Italian team component?
Times were already changing. There were still Liquigas and Lampre, which later became the nucleus of the current UAE Team Emirates, but the wind was already changing. We really miss having a team in the WT, But to achieve this, huge budgets are needed, not only for the riders and the activity, but above all to guarantee cutting-edge products and facilities. Here I come back to what I said earlier: Filippo Ganna is very strong and has the best technical skills at his disposal. to get the best. If you don't stay up to date and invest in aerodynamics, you won't stand out in this world.
Based on your experience, how will newcomers be welcomed?
I think they will be introduced into the team gradually, through a dedicated calendar, initially avoiding major events like the three Giro d'Italia. But be careful: when we talk about a secondary calendar we are making a mistake, because Now we don't have any secondary competitions anymore, we always go at full speedFor example, this year I did the Coppi e Bartali for the first time, but we were going really fast…
Is there still a sort of “protection” towards the youngest?
I wouldn't say so, they're thrown into the mix based on what they can do. Look. SheffieldOur American, at twenty, has already won a classic in Belgium and has made his mark several times. If you're worthy, there are certainly ways to make yourself known...
Is Pidcock an example?
Tom is pure talent, you don't win the Olympics by chance. I was with him at last year's Vuelta, he came from Tokyo and from mountain biking, at the beginning he was a bit dazed, but in the last week he was going strong.. This year at the Tour he gave a demonstration of his abilities, But let's not forget what he did before. He's a born winner.
You've already gone well beyond the 50 days of competition...
I'm always the one who ends up having the most days of competition, between 70 and 80.It wasn't an easy season, at the beginning I had Covid, then the crash at Strade Bianche, until Tour of the Alps I just wasn't going. Then the condition arrived and I think I had a good Giro, working hard for carapaz.
How are the team experiencing this season? Aside from Thomas's strong performance at the Tour, that mark on the race hasn't been seen since.
I think the top brass is satisfied. We have never done so well in the classics, but we still got on the podium at the Giro and the Tour.Sure, many had gotten used to the series of victories, but it's part of the cycle. Maybe a few "beats" are even good, it will be nicer to get back to winning and I believe that investing in the future is aimed precisely at this.
What are your plans?
I'm waiting to find out if I'll be called up for the Vuelta and maybe, by going to Spain, I'll be able to earn a jersey for the World Championships. It's always nice to wear the blue jersey, but you can only do it if you're really well, with properly toned legs. There's a month and a half to go and at this rate, with Covid always lurking, it's really difficult to make predictions...
