What happened to the Tour of Italy, but in reverse. Philip Conca, is found at the start of the Return. Il rider of the Lotto Soudal he is about to face his first major Giro.
He found out like this, surprisingly, before the start of a race. So much so that to reach the team in Holland we practically had to endure an "interrail" trip through half of Europe..
"I was," Conca says, "at the Polynormande (a route between Brittany and Normandy, ed.), from there I took a train to Paris, a 4-hour journey. Then another train to Brussels. From Brussels, another train to Herentals where we have the team logistics and from there I arrived with them in Utrecht."
Why didn't you travel by plane?
Because these days, flights are always a big problem, as we've seen. I had my bike with me, and many times my luggage didn't arrive. In Italy, for example, my flight was canceled. I ended up having to take two: Milan-Rome, Rome-Bari.I left at 7 and arrived at the hotel at 9:30. No massages, no run… and in fact in the final race the next day I wasn't brilliant.
Filippo, this Vuelta was really a surprise…
I was a reserve for the Spanish match. The day before yesterday they called me to tell me I'd be there. Another player who had just recovered from Covid wasn't offering any guarantees, so they called me. In practice, what happened to me at the Giro happened in reverse.
But Filippo something was missing this season…
I would say that in general these two years have been missed. Not so much the racing or the training, but I've never been able to find the right condition. I'd run for a month and then, for one reason or another, I'd stop. That way, you don't gain consistency and never find the right form.
And how are you now?
After Covid in April, I haven't had any more problems. I can feel it and see it in my performance on the bike. The wheels are starting to turn in the right direction. I had it in Baschi. I was out for nine days, I started again, but shortly afterward I was terribly tired. I only recovered at the end of May and only from then on did I start training intensely.
So how do you get to this Vuelta?
Ho the best sensations for two years now.
But the results haven't arrived yet, let's hope they can come at the Vuelta...
True, it's not easy, given the lack of fitness and the fact that I have to work for the team. With the point that points are needed, the focus is primarily on finishing in the top ten. If I'd had more space, maybe I would have done better.
And then your contract expires, right?
Exactly. And it's not easy. At the Tour de l'Ain, even though I made myself available, I didn't give up once my work was done. I finished 14th, but it didn't help much. Maybe a top 10 finish would have helped me a little.
And will you be available in Spain too?
In Spain we go on getaways and we all have carte blanche. Right. Crashes (Steff Cras, 26-year-old Belgian, ed.) will try to hold on to the rankings, but without pressure.
We hope so! Filippo, let's move on to the preparation. You said you're finally seeing the performance. How did you prepare for this, your first major Giro… without knowing it?
All in all, it was a suitable preparation for a major Giro, also because I was hoping for it: I wanted to do this Vuelta at all costs. In the end I was at altitude in Livigno for a good 25 days: The first ten with the team at Trepalle (2.300 meters, ed.) and then in an apartment in Livigno (1.800 meters, ed.). I had never done such an altitude. I spoke with the team, I was supposed to do some racing, but I wanted to stay up there to make a big volume. If I'd dropped back earlier, maybe I would have been faster at the Ain, but I wouldn't have been "right" for the Vuelta. I achieved quality in the Tour de l'Ain and the Polynormande.
So what did you do up there?
As mentioned, quantity. I did two- and three-day blocks, with a rest day in between: an easy outing with a bar break! I worked without straining my neck, only in the last week I increased the intensity a little, But I hadn't yet done anything out of my comfort zone. If I'd pushed, I'd have gotten into shape right away, but I'd have burned out quickly, negating the benefits of the mountains. So I did runs lasting between 4 and 5 hours, and a couple of six-hour ones, but always with significant elevation gain: 3.500 and even over 4.000 meters. I've joined the gym once a week, for the neuromuscular system.
Gym: weights or free body?
Weights, but don't overdo it, also because I tend to put on muscle and don't want to weigh myself down. I'm 75 kilos which is fine for my height (190 centimetres). Maybe I could be a little thinner to go faster on the climbs, but then I'd lose strength. As far as I'm concerned, it's better to try to increase my watts than lose weight.
You mentioned intensity earlier, but were you also doing any work?
I've always developed strength on my bike. I was doing some SFR 2-3 minutes but with your watts at threshold. Then work on medium-speed uphill runs with the final 2 minutes at threshold.
Have you also worked with the time trial bike? Since there's even a team time trial. Speaking of which, have you ever ridden one?
As a pro, no, but as an under-23, yes, at the 2019 Avenir. Just the day before yesterday we did some testing with the team at the Zolder racetrack. Not so much because we're aiming for the time trial, but to try not to mess things up or take unnecessary risks. And then there are teams that are ahead of us in terms of materials.
That?
On the road, we're very well-equipped with wheels, bikes, and everything else. We're very competitive. In time trials, however, we are a bit behind and we are waiting for the new bike for next year.
And did you train for time trials at altitude?
Not much, also because, as mentioned, it's not worth investing too much. Even if you're at 100%, you're at a disadvantage when it comes to materials.
And will you work on it?
I'd love to do it. Maybe in two or three years I'll be competing in a short stage race and have to do a time trial flat out. If you don't work on it, aiming for a top five will leave you outside the top 10.
In light of what we've discussed, what is Filippo Conca's ideal stage?
Not an easy stage, but not a very difficult one either. I would like there to be long climbs, even very long ones, but rideable. For me there is no favorite type of running. On a steep climb there are 30 riders stronger than me, so I have to anticipate, I have to focus on the breakaways. I then noticed that At the beginning of the race there are many riders stronger than me, while in the final stages I go betterThe gap is narrowing
You're about to tackle your first major Giro: what do you expect?
Considering what I just said, I hope that this aspect can emerge and do well as we move forward. I'm curious to see how my body will react in the third week. So far the longest stage race I've done has been 10 days: I've ridden the Giro twice as an amateur and finished fifth overall twice. Performance-wise, I hope to be strong because I feel good, I know that with the preparation I've done, I can grow and achieve something great.
Have you already seen any stages?
Not knowing I was going to Spain, no. The last few days have been super intense, but starting tonight I'm going to start studying. which one might be the most suitable for me. Certainly not the first stages in Holland. The sprinters, having limited chances there, will not want to miss their sprint opportunities.
