Let's start looking ahead to the season's big events. A crucial moment for next year, and certainly for the next. Giro d'Italia Women's cycling, it will be on June 2nd, when the Belluno – Nevegal stage will take place, an uphill individual time trial. In short, a real 12,7 kilometre time trial.
A time trial that in some ways isn't anything new. And yes, because was addressed, in detail, by male colleagues in the Tour of Italy of 2011, the one dominated by Alberto Contador (even if that success ended up with Scarponi's due to the Spaniard's disqualification). The fact is that he won that day and finished seventh Marco Pinotti. Today the Bergamo native is the coach of the Jayco-AlUla and Giro Women's cycling will have one of the athletes who best suits this fraction: Monica Trinca Colonel. But leaving aside the Valtellina, let's explore this time trial with Pinotti. What it holds. What bike will we use? What gaps can we expect?
Marco, first of all: what do you remember of that day at Nevegal?
Eh – laughs Pinotti – I remember it well: a lot of effort! I remember that we were coming from the incredible Gardeccia stage, the hardest I've ever done. So there was a group that was pretty tired for that stage, and I was one of them. But the day before, there had been a rest, and that helped me a lot. For me, it was a bit of a contradictory Giro: I had started well, managing to stay in the top ten in the standings, then right around Gardeccia I had let up a bit, but just... that time trial gave me back my morale… to then try to win the San Pellegrino stage (he was second behind Capecchi, ed.), which allowed me to get back into the rankings.
What time is it?
It's a fast time trial in the first part: there's a descent leaving Belluno. Then there's a tough section around the third kilometer, then another short fast section, and finally it's all uphill. So it needs to be managed well in the first part. The uphill portion begins immediately with the hardest stretch: 4,4 kilometers at 10 percent. The last kilometer and a half is faster, however.
It's not a straight-up time trial, after all?
It is, but overall it remains a fast time trial. I don't remember it being particularly technical. I do remember that We practically all used road bikes and I think that next June too, with the girls, we will make the same choice. It's a time trial for high performance because it's low-altitude and ideal for pushing. You just have to be careful how you manage the first part.
Will it be a little harder for girls?
Yes, definitely. It will be a time trial, in my opinion, of more than 35 minutes for them. We did it in 29 minutes. (Contador won with 28'55”). Management is crucial for me, because it's not all uphill and because the gradients encourage you to push the gears. They're constant gradients of between 8 and 10 percent. But women don't have the strength of men, you understand?
Since you mentioned management, what step should be taken?
You need to start with control, because in the first part you also need to ride well, but without exaggerating the risks. Ultimately, the time is set in the second half, the uphill part, from kilometer 5 onwards. In the first part, you can lose a little, but it would still be just a few seconds. You need to try to stay below the threshold, but without falling asleep. I imagine the first part will last about 8 minutes, followed by 25-27 minutes of actual climbing. So the first part is almost a warm-up. And then you need energy for the finale.
Why?
Why the last 1.500-1.700 meters are easier. I'm not saying on a slight slope, but Speed is essential there.
Naming a few names: who is this time trial suitable for?
Potentially to Marlene ReusserBut be careful: the climb is steep. Even a lighter athlete might experience discomfort. In my opinion, Vollering would be the favorite over her.
You mentioned earlier that you'll be riding a road bike. What setup will you use?
Not many adjustments: a road bike with a fast wheelset is fine. Our bikes (Giant, ed) In Jayco-AlUla they are still around 6,8 kilos with high wheels. Therefore, you shouldn't look for super-light wheels, but for fast wheels that facilitate the first part, which is more oriented towards aerodynamics.
Relationships?
Double crown for sure. The only precaution, thinking about the first 5 kilometers, could be to have prostheses, but I don't know how much it is worth, Because you'd add weight, and today's handlebars are quite narrow. And how long would you actually be able to stay in the same position? Because there are some curves. With prosthetics, you could save 6-7 seconds in those first 5 kilometers.
Would you rule out switching from a time trial bike to a road bike?
Absolutely. Even though it lasts more than half an hour, it's still a short and explosive time trial. And let's not forget that in the first section there's also a nearly one-kilometer climb at 5 percent gradient, where the time trial bike offers no advantage... especially if you then have to stop to change gear and get back into the rhythm. The change costs you 15 seconds, there is the risk of nervousness… No: no change.
Marco, will you do an inspection with Trinca Colonel?
It'll have to be evaluated based on our commitments between races and training camps. We might not send the athlete, but I hope to send someone. Maybe I can go myself.
So it's a time trial that winks more at climbers than at watch specialists?
Yes, definitely. The temporal division between the lower and the higher part favors the latter. Despite my pace, which was somehow perfect for seventh place, I finished 58 seconds behind Contador. That means I made few mistakes, considering I wasn't a pure climber. Looking back at the file from that day, I see that it was 30 degrees, and this heat could have an impact. I also note that in the first 5 kilometers, I averaged 39,5 km/h: this confirms that they are fast but not completely flat. In the 5 percent climb, I averaged 30 km/h, while on the downhill section, I averaged 47,6 km/h. Other segments were at 40 km/h on a 2 percent gradient.
Data that helps us understand that it is not all uphill, but not even ideal for a time trial bike that needs to be changed on the fly.
Exactly. The toughest climb, the central one, I tackled at almost 18 miles per hour. A real climb.
