There is a huge gap between being an amateur and a professional. But some dynamics that occur in the professional life of a pro can also help Sunday cyclists.Especially when health is at stake. The experience Fausto Masnada went through in the season just ended, which he had mentioned the other evening during the his Fans Club party in Laxolo, is a pilot case that offers ideas for avoiding unpleasant problems.
His 2022 was plagued by health problems: mononucleosis, Covid and a very annoying inflammation of the suprasella which has given him no peace, from winter training until the last race in September. For the first two, mononucleosis and Covid, there is little that can be done: ailments that happen to everyone and whose advice let's leave it to doctors and experts. For inflammation of the saddle, however, the issue becomes more technical and "cycling-related".
The neglected rest
Masnada felt so much pain, always running with a couple of gears less, that he dedicated a good portion of the break between the old season and the preparation of the new one to understand the origin of the problem.
«When you get to the end of the year – he explains – you draw a line under the results. The things that went well and, above all, the things that went badly, so as not to repeat any mistakes made. Well, The inflammation I suffered from started shortly after the mononucleosisStopping again would have meant asking the team for another three weeks of waiting, and I didn't want to do that. The experts had only one opinion: rest. But I didn't feel like listening to them and I continued on."
First you have to heal
By doing so, the rider of the Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team he made himself available, but never managed to be at the top of his game, having to miss – for example – the Giro d'Italia and the Giro di Lombardia which in 2021 saw him arrive at the finish line in Bergamo in second place, behind Pogacar. First lesson: before leaving, heal as best you can.
«I continued taking antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and painkillers – he explains – but the pain was really limiting. At the Vuelta, after 10 minutes of racing, I felt excruciating pain.. After all, the saddle is one of the few parts of the body on which a delicate part of our body continuously rests."
Continuing in these conditions has certainly tempered the spirit and determination of Masnada which is managed to get to Madrid, escorting the red jersey of Remco Evenepoel, only thanks to his tenacity and the support of his teammates: «Everyone wanted me to get to the end and I did it, it was a tough test, but getting to the end was my only goal».
Six weeks of stoppage
Once the season is over, we turn the page and correct our mistakes. "Regarding recovery," explains the 29-year-old from Bergamo, " I decided to stay off the bike for 6 weeks after my last ride in SeptemberI usually only do four, but this year I really felt the need to heal as best I could. I continued with the antibiotics, but I took a long vacation before getting back on the bike. Now it's definitely better, I'm following my programs and the pain is just a memory».
A new saddle
Rest, of course, but also some fundamental tips regarding bike setup. Mandatory, for Masnada, to turn to his mentor: Aldo Vedovati from Bergamo.
«Together with him – explains Masnada – we have correct riding position to minimize chafing on the saddle padThis is also because I am very sensitive in that area, having undergone surgery in 2020. I changed the saddle model, adjusted its setback and also corrected the handlebar heightI'm fine, I feel stable and I can give my best."
Hygiene of the seat pad
Rest, recovery and set-up are in place, there is Another aspect that should be taken care of at the end of each outing is hygiene.One of the causes of the inflammation that Masnada detected is the cleaning of the caseback.
«The problem – he explains – arose in a period in which I was always away from home, We were staying in a hotel, they washed our clothes there, but you never know how they treat them. Taking care of cleanliness is crucial to preventing problems like mine. This year, therefore, I will pay particular attention to the cleanliness of my shirt, shorts, and socks. always disinfecting everything every time I use them».
Little World Tour secrets that can change anyone's life.
