Once work was done, Giovanni Aleotti packed his things back into the car and hit the highway. It took him about four and a half hours to get from Novo Mesto to his home in Emilia. In the trunk, in addition to the bike, there was also the trophy Tour of Slovenia, his most beautiful victory, and the yellow jersey of leaderIsn't it strange that these days the classification jerseys are all yellow as gold? We left off after the Giro d'Italia. talking about the restart and pointing to the race in Pogačar's home country and then the Italian championships as the first achievable opportunities, and so far things have gone exactly like this. Now all that's left is to pedal toward the Italian championship, and then we can finally catch our breath.
The turning point in the young career of the Emilian, professional from 2021 to Bora Hansgrohe, who helped Martinez to take second place at the Giro, was there thanks to a winter finally without ailments and with the beginning of the collaboration with Paolo Artuso. If you put your legs and confidence together, something good is sure to come, and so it did.
«The Giro at the service of Dani Martinez – he says as the car has just crossed the border – the fact of being there all three weeks on the climbs has certainly given me awareness and confidence. Coming here, knowing that I have freedom and can prove that I can win, certainly makes me very happy.I think I came out of the Giro well. Paolo and I hit the right workload. Not distances of six hours, which could perhaps mentally knock me down, but what was needed to maintain freshness. And in the end I arrived at the Tour of Slovenia feeling good...".
Did you spend this recovery period at home or did you go somewhere cool?
I stayed at home. I trained and then I came here by car with Paolo.
How important was the change of coach?
I was coming off a difficult year, it takes a moment to lose confidence a little. So having found a person who always pushed me to believe and improve myself was certainly very important.I have to thank him because I think that this season, from the Valenciana to the Tirreno, to the Giro and then here to Slovenia, he really made me take a step forward compared to other years. In the end I would say that it was above all a question of consistency in the work and the fact that since December I have been able to work well without any hitches. Compared to last year, this was certainly a factor. Then it was also fundamental the work done with the team's new nutritionistThese things combined, an extra year of experience and then obviously my mentality made the difference.
Is it really the most important victory of your career, as you said in interviews after your arrival?
I would say yes, without taking anything away from it. Tour of Sibiu. Slovenia is a great race and there was also a great start list, between those coming from Gro and those who were doing it as the last race before the Tour. I think of Pello Bilbao, as well as Pellizzari and Mohoric. So that definitely gives me confidence.
Will the victory be a good omen on the road to the Italian championships?
The condition is certainly there and at this point also the motivation. I have the last week of training ahead of me before I take a break.We'll try to do our best. The Italian championship is always a tough race, a lottery, so you also have to be smart and lucky. But I'll definitely be motivated. The act of disconnecting is a physical necessity before a mental one, I think I need itI haven't really had a chance to recover since this winter and then preparing for the Giro. So I think I need some rest to be competitive in the second half of the season. I'll take a week off and then start again.
Has it ever bothered you to still be labeled as unfinished, even though the reasons for your delays were often physical problems?
Of course, you always want to do your best. The level we are at now is so high that even just one bad week can affect the outcome of the following races.I knew what was happening to me and I think it was important to focus on the get back to feeling good and working consistently. As we discussed in Rome, at the Giro I had a slightly different task than in other years, when I had to work in the central part of the race. This year, having improved on the climbs, the team needed me in the final So for me it was both a way to help Martinez, but also to test myself. By being as close to him as possible, I learned something more about my abilities. And if that gave me confidence, coming home, Training and coming here to win definitely gives me a lot of awarenessThe next step will be to be ready for the goals I have in the second part of the season.
How complicated was the last stage?
Let's say it exploded from afar and we could have expected it. However, we focused on management, because It's a moment to get caught up in the moment and do the wrong things, wasting energyBut on the final climb, we got everything right. The climb was tough, and I felt good, and the team put me in a position to stay in the race until that final moment.
How do you feel about being a leader?
Having done the Giro with Martinez, but also many races with Vlasov, I've learned to recognize when it's time to make the radio call for the team to interveneAnd then we also have some very well-prepared sporting directors. Here was Eisel, who certainly has a lot of experience: It's important to have a person who transmits a lot of calm from the car even in moments when you risk getting agitated.
The journey continues, destination Emilia and then the Italian championship. Aleotti won the tricolor jersey in 2020 among the U23s in Zola Predosa, near his homeThis year, the finish line is on the other side of the Apennines, on the roads of Alfredo Martini. It will be a lottery, but holding on with victory in your eyes and great sensations in your legs this time will really not be a problem.
