For Marco Tizza, Santa Claus showed up early at his door and brought him a significant gift, one that changes his life, at least for a while. A gift in the form of a new contract with the Bingoal WB, a Belgian professional team that is now aiming to make itself seen more and more on the road, imitating its “sister” in cyclocross. The news of the Lombard rider's signing is decidedly fresh; he was one of the Belgian team's latest arrivals and averted a premature farewell.
Speaking with Marco, the feeling is that of a boy a little disillusioned after starting his adventure in professionalism in 2015 always passing through continental formations and after years of good results but, without that damned phone ringing, hope was giving way to resignation: «I'm honest, if the call from Belgium hadn't arrived, I would have stopped.I had been in contact with Italian professional teams but it was just talk. Other continental teams had approached me but honestly I no longer felt like continuing at that level."
Why?
Because the continental world is a world without certainties, where there is no real calendar.You train without a clear vision, without knowing what races you'll be playing, so you can't plan your training properly. It's not just an Italian problem; we need to rethink the entire system to support teams like the one I was in, theLove & Life Prodir.
How did you get along with them?
I can only say good things about them. I arrived in 2018 after the end of my brief experience at Nippo, Ivano Fanini wanted me in his group, effectively giving me another chance, because I was very undecided about what to do. The first year brought some good results, including two victories in Romania and Portugal, but then Covid hit, which was a real blow for the continental teams and their riders. They even asked me to stay, but as I said, I was leaning towards finishing, then the phone rang...
How did the contact with the Belgians come about?
Means From Rosa, who knew that Bingoal wanted to change the scope of its business a little by expanding to other areas and therefore also participating in Italian competitions. Ma At least one rider from here was needed, so he suggested my name. The contact was made after the Coppa Agostoni.
Do you think your final part of the season, with good placings at the Giro di Sicilia and the Giro del Veneto, helped make your name more attractive?
I think so, after all, in the second part of the season I've always done pretty well and I also think the fact that I've historically always done well in the Northern races, where there's a lot to improve, had an influence. I know they've bought a lot of young players into the team and they've already told me I'll have to be a bit of a mother hen for them., which I don't mind.
Coming to a foreign experience at almost thirty means a big change…
If you mean the group, yes, but I've competed a lot abroad. At Nippo, for example, we had a calendar that included many races outside our borders, and that never scared me, on the contrary. At Bingoal I will be the only Italian, it's true, but in the meantime The sports director, Christophe Brandt, raced for Saeco and speaks a little Italian. Then it will be an opportunity to improve my English, in short there are no real problems, I'm someone who works in a group easily.
Does this choice guarantee you a more stable schedule and therefore be able to prepare with greater certainty?
It's definitely a relief. I also love the Belgian races, in the Northern countryside there are many races outside the WorldTour.In 2018 I was second in the Tour of Limburg (opening photo, ed.), I've always felt at ease on those roads. The important thing is to have the opportunity to run and prepare well for that.. To be honest, that phone call really cheered me up and gave me a strong boost to face the new season.
How are you preparing for now?
I do 3-4 hour rides, but without forcing it at all, gentle pedalling combined with a bit of gym work and a certain amount of attention to my diet, to arrive at the first meeting not completely dry of kilometres. We'll meet again on the 11th in Spain and there they'll also tell me what they expect from me.
And what do you expect?
To get back on track, to be able to have my say on some occasion and to prove that thirty years old are not to be thrown awayIn today's cycling, that would be a truly great result.
