La Return, will play its final stages in the next few days, in the name of the red jersey of Remco EvenepoelWe had already analyzed how modern cycling was becoming more and more "specialized" and was becoming increasingly fewer days of racing, but with the aim of always being high-performing. This is even more evident in the Spanish stage race, which the first three of the final classification of the last race started Tour of Italy: Hindley, carapaz e Landa. Who have never managed to perform well enough to enter the general classification of the Vuelta. The most active was Carapaz, with two stage victories, net of the 18 minutes of delay that he is currently paying from the leader Evenepoel.
Route change
Paul Slongo, a highly experienced trainer and sports director, has lived through many eras. It was he who guided Nibali when, in 2013, the Sicilian took his first victory at the Giro and, a few months later, second place at the Vuelta (opening photo with Nibali in the red jersey, which passed to Horner three days from the finish, ed.).
«I think that by planning well – Slongo begins to speak – having in mind to race the Giro and Vuelta it is more feasible to do the general classificationThere is more time, you can have a greater break and consequently a longer preparation period. I think that pairing the Giro and the Tour or the Tour and the Vuelta is too difficult for modern cycling., where you always have to be 100 percent.
"It's too difficult, even mentally, to try to prolong a period of good form for so long, especially since the few weeks between these races would only be enough time to maintain your condition. It's a different story if, for one reason or another, you fail to perform in a Grand Tour and consequently aim for the next one. As was the case with a Mas (typical old farm) this year at the Tour, now you see him strong at the Vuelta."
A great diversification
The working and preparation methods have changed a lot, concentrating much of the work on specific training sessions, no longer on competitions. Running becomes the stage where you can show your strength, not a laboratory in which to try and experiment.
"This depends on many things," Slongo continues, "especially what the team wants and its goals. One thing is certain, though: until a few years ago, leaders ran by making similar approaches, they used to run the same races, now not even that. We go too far in exaggerating the specific appointment and you find them riders always ready in the appointments that countEvenepoel, for example, has concentrated most of his season, if not all, on the Vuelta. It is obvious that he arrives with greater motivation and preparation than those who have already raced the Giro d'Italia or the Tour de FranceHe is hungrier for success, the others, however, are satisfied with what was shown in the previous appointments».
Different times and mentalities
Since the post-pandemic period, including the 2020 season, it has become even more difficult to compete at a high level in two Grand Tours. Previously, in 2017 Froome won the Tour and then the Vuelta, also following the 2018 Giro. The last one to get close was Roglic in 2019 and 2020 when he finished third in the Giro and then won the Vuelta, then second in the Tour and first in the Vuelta.
«I'll give you an example – Slongo says again – of what has changed over the years. Vincenzo to the Tirreno-Adriatico he never reached his peak condition, but he was always competitiveIn recent years, you struggle to get into the top ten if you're not at your best. In Australia, at the Tour Down Under, you see certain values on the climbs that you then find at the Tour de FranceIf you're aiming for a race, you're now super prepared, even at the start of the season. Before, however, you'd identify a period and be able to run while maintaining good condition for longer. The main change came in the last 7-8 years, when Sky with Froome popularised this increasingly specific working method.Nibali, when he won the Tour, had to ignore all the early season races.
The coach's vision
As a final step, we need to understand whether these new methods of approaching competitions have the trainer's job changed.
«In my opinion – says Slongo – the way of working hasn't changed. Ultimately I have to follow the best method for the team's goals depending on the requests and projectsI have my systems and I just need to figure out when and how to apply them. What changes is the show and the public's relationship with cycling.There are those who are happy because every time you watch a top rider race, you always see him in peak condition and performance. On the contrary, some would prefer to see riders involved in more races and face each other in a broader scenario."
