Sbaragli is kindness personified, yet at the end of June from the podium of the Italian championships, he let out a roarA vindication, a gesture of pride and anger at the same time.
“During the year,” he said rather nervously, “nobody ever notices that I run too. I always do my job, but when I can do my race I think I can still go fast, so I'm happy with the performance of the Italian championshipToday we could have done the sprint, but I couldn't do it because, like Trentin who also started from behind, I found myself with the road closed. And if I hadn't braked, I would have fallen."
He had it in for Route, then they cleared things up and are now national teammates, with the blue suit that for the first time It does not include sponsor writings on the shorts (top photo, from Instagram, of Sbaragli training at Mugello in recent days).
Do you think this call-up is recognition of that effort and a reward for your performance?
I think it was an important signal, in a race where I could have fought for an excellent resultThe World Championship route also suits me, I think I have the characteristics to be of maximum support to the team. Of course, I know what my role will be, and I think we'll race and do our best accordingly. The team is very close-knit, and I'm happy to be part of it.
Your teammate Philipsen caused quite a stir by saying that in Glasgow he wouldn't get in the way of Van der Poel, who is your captain, but is racing for Holland...
In Belgium they have abundance and their own problems. I see the internal problem is more pressing than Philipsen's wordsIn that national team there are three absolute leaders and I think that this, on the contrary, will have to be our strength to fight together.
Could riding in a team with Van der Poel be an advantage?
To counteract it we will have to run at 110 percent without any individualism, we will fight to get the blue jersey as high as possible. Maybe in Belgium or in Holland they have stronger individualities than ours, but perhaps they are not so united.
How are you?
I'm fine, I'm very fine. I made an ideal approach to get to the top and so I hope I can demonstrate the condition I have.
