Matteo Malucelli was the most successful Italian of the year after Jonathan MilanThe sprinter of the XDS-Astana took home eight races against Milan's ten, but what matters most is that he has demonstrated consistency in his performance: even when he has clashed with the super big players he has never looked out of place.
The more malicious might say that his victories came in minor races in Asia. True, but first and foremost, the races Malucelli won were of a good standard, and then you have to know how to win them. Many say, "I'm going to race in Asia," and then they're left with nothing.
But that's not the point of this article. Malucelli's value is well known, as is his integrity. The curiosity is to understand whether Malucelli is ready to debut in a Grand Tour. At 32 years old, does he deserve this opportunity, given the solidity he has demonstrated? We asked his coach, Claudio CucinottaWe had already asked a similar question to the head coach of XDS-Astana, Maurizio Mazzoleni, But on that occasion, a technical-tactical aspect also emerged, namely the men to bring to him. With Cucinotta, however, the focus is strictly on the "engine."
Claudio, let's start from here: Malucelli's eight victories...
Certainly Matteo is what you call a pure sprinter. He's truly one of the few remaining, because he's a figure that's being somewhat lost in modern cycling: these days, you also need to be aerobically strong. In the past, there were very fast sprinters but they lacked that ability.
When you say aerobic strength for a sprinter, do you mean being better at climbing?
Exactly. Previously, uphill sprinters would break away and struggle, but this is now disappearing because races are now run at full speed from start to finish. Those who don't have a certain level of aerobic fitness struggle even if the race isn't altimetrically challenging. For this reason, Matteo stands out especially in Asian races, where the racing style is slightly different than in Europe. But be careful: the starting field is no less valuable than a similar European race in terms of sprinters.
And what changes?
The courses. They're flatter and more level. And because they are, the strongest climbers or time trial athletes, those with significant aerobic fitness, are often not sent there. As a result, the race is structured to suit the pure sprinter. And among the pure sprinters, Matteo is certainly one of the strongest. As proof there is what was done atUAE Tour.
What are you referring to?
This year he is one of the few who can say he fought on equal terms with merlier and with Milan. In one stage he finished second behind Merlier and ahead of Milan. The next stage was still in contention, but he crashed and had to retire. But this shows that he can compete even against the most legendary riders, when the route is right.
What kind of sprinter is he? You, who know his stats, can give us a different picture...
He's a sprinter with specific characteristics: he's not the AC Milan type who starts at 200-250 meters and no one can pass him. He's more like Robbie McEwen from my day. He has very high peak power.
Not to mention that it's also very aerodynamic. Matteo studied the position thoroughly...
Yes, he's very attentive and professional, he takes care of every detail. He's very committed to his training and nutrition. As he matured, he became aware of the type of rider he is and his potential. He knows he's not an absolute phenomenon, so he works hard to stay competitive. He gets results partly because he has remarkable power peaks, but to reach the sprint, he has to hone everything down to the smallest details.
So, since we're talking about aerobic fitness, can Malucelli do a Grand Tour?
He definitely can. But you have to understand the objective. If you want to go all the way, it's more complicated. But if there are five sprints in the first ten days, a team can say: "We'll take a risk, we'll bring him, maybe he'll win a stage or two and then go home." That would already be a more than positive outcome.
Many sprinters come with the goal of the first 10-12 days…
Exactly. It's difficult for an athlete with his characteristics to finish a Grand Tour, especially today with this style of racing.
Tell us better ...
There are stages where you go fast from the first to the last kilometer. Pure sprinters struggle a lot. Just think of Mark Cavendish: he too, despite being of a different calibre, has struggled in recent years to finish first Tour of Italy and then the Tour de France. Sure, he won stages in both, but in the mountains he was always on the edge of the time limit.
If the old margins had been there, would it be out of time?
True. In pre-Covid cycling, there wasn't a full-throttle rush from start to finish, so even though the time limit was tighter, we started slower. Now, however, already on the first climb, perhaps 150 kilometers from the finish, there's a fight and the sprinters drop away. That's the problem. Runners like Jasper Phillipsen They are better at climbing hills and therefore remain competitive until the end of the Grand Tours.
Ironically, could the Tour de France be the most suitable Grand Tour for Matteo?
Let's say that also the Tour is not what it used to be. In the past, it was considered more regular and predictable, but today that has changed: shorter and more explosive stages, designed to increase the spectacle and maintain high speeds from start to finish. So that doesn't mean it's any less challenging for a sprinter like Matteo than the Giro or Vuelta.
How important would it have been for him to have done Grand Tours as a young man?
If you can finish one in good condition it gives you a lot, both in terms of endurance and overall endurance. He probably would have something more in the estate now and in managing climbs during the race. But every story is different: Matteo has always raced in medium-small teams, and this is also reflected in the way he approaches sprints.
What do you mean?
Sometimes he has a bit of trouble following his teammates, because he's always been used to making do, jumping from one wheel to another.
Claudio, you said earlier that Malucelli can do a Grand Tour. If you decide to bring him this year, will he have to work harder on his aerobic fitness?
Surely he will have to do it, but we have to understand if it is worth it. It's always the same story: if you work harder on your aerobics, you improve on the climbs, but you risk losing momentum in the sprints. This year, he's won eight races thanks to his natural abilities. Next year, he might hold his own, but he'll only win two. Is it worth it? I think Matteo has found his true calling, and our team has the ideal environment. Moreover, having a Chinese main sponsor means Asian races are important to us, and a rider like him is invaluable.
So Malucelli can go to the Grand Tour? How do we wrap this up, Claudio?
Yes, he can go, and he deserves it. But he has to work in a certain way. It remains to be seen whether it's really worth it, for the team... and for him.
