BACK TO RACES

Here the days are passing by so fast and Sunday - or better the day on which I will go back home - is approaching. My next race is already scheduled: I will take part in the Tour de Wallonie in Belgium from July 24^th to July 28^th. In order to refine my shape I put the main focus during the training sessions on the quality instead of on the quantity.

The first 10 days in the training camp passed by fast and without meeting obstacles. The weather was nice, as well as the company in the hotel and during the training. I feel a little bit the nostalgia for home but being a cyclist it is normal to pass more nights in hotels than in your on bed.

DOLOMITI

My training period here at the Fedaia Pass will be over soon. On Saturday I did a six hours ride through the beautiful mountains. Like you already know I love this region and I think that it is one of the most beautiful parts of our Alps. Waking up in the morning at the feet of the Marmolada is priceless. The queen of the Dolomites definitely has little competitors. Furthermore I am in good company : we are a nice group of cyclists so that the days and the training hours are passing by really fast.

RELAX

The Italian Championships concluded the first part of the season. Now I can allow myself a short break. Fortunately I was able to proceed like it had been planned. I didn`t have to confront any obstacles or injuries that would have obliged me to change my plans. For that reason I didn`t complain after Saturday. Until Wednesday I rode my bike but from yesterday on I am at the sea in order to relax. Like I said before, it will be just a short break will remain for two weeks.
Thanks once more to Davy and all the others that contributed to support the Città della Speranza.

Italian Championships

Last weekend I took part in the Italian Championships. It was a really hard and long day for me. I had already felt tense before the start and at the same time I had been focused because it was a good opportunity to achieve a good result. Right from the first kilometers I felt being in a good shape and without really wanting it I found myself in the first breakaway of the day. Obviously I knew that this attack was too early to be determining but I also was aware that staying together with these 20 riders would allow me to ride the 264,58km at a constant rhythm without jerks and without the stress caused by riding in the peloton. I rode attentively, just changing velocity from time to time. Furthermore I focused on drinking and eating when necessary because the length of the race didn`t allow any mistakes.
After being caught I realized that the climb of Cà dal Poggio was too hard for me. If there had been an attack during the last round, I probably wouldn`t have been able to follow. Therefore I decided to put all my eggs into one basket and consequently I attacked once more. I was able to break away alone, then Mori and Sella joined me. Unfortunately the group behind us was still composed of many riders and the teams organized themselves. It`s a pity! In my opinion the race would have been different if we had had just 20 seconds more…
I risked loosing with the hope to win. In any case like that I have been protagonist during the whole day and I returned the affection of my fans. They supported me a lot J
Congratulations to Visconti: He really was the strongest rider in the peloton.

FIFTH PLACE

Once again I finished a race among the firsts. Yesterday`s GP du canton d`Argovie was really nice and spectacular: A difficult circuit that had to be ridden eleven times and the heat made an additional selection. Lap by lap the peloton declined and at the last climb I decided to take matters into my own hands. Attacking I managed to form a group of six riders but once again I couldn`t maximize the result. Everybody controlled Haussler and me, therefore we had to reply to each attack and Vandewalle managed to anticipate us. I regret that even though having good legs and climbing well I couldn`t take advantage of my good shape. I just can hope that this good placement here in Switzerland is a good omen for the upcoming Tour de Suisse. During the 10 stages I will have for sure the opportunity to play to the gallery.

READY TO SWITZERLAND

For the next day I will stay in Switzerland: sunday riding the Grand Prix du canton d'Argovie in Gippingem and from 12 to 20 june riding the Tour of Switzerland. After the bud luck in the Tour of Belgium I hope to do a good race and get a great result.

AT HOME

Sunday evening I arrived back home after the Tour de Picardie. I suppose you are already well informed about it, so I just give you a short summary.

1st stage: Boué – Doullens (181km): The stage was distinguished by a long breakaway of three riders. We had to work really hard to catch them and then, during the final, Bozic and I tried to achieve a good result in the field sprint. Bozic crossed the finish line 14th position, I sprinted to 15th. I am satisfied because I felt quite good during the stage.

2nd stage: Friville-Escarbotin-Belloy – Cires-lès-Mello (186km): Saturday`s stage also finished with a field sprint. With 3km to go and while fighting to cover Bozic a crash occurred. Fortunately I didn`t fall but I had to slow down and therefore I could´t take part in the final sprint.
3rd stage: Crépy-en-Vallois – Sissonne (174km): The last stage ended in a field sprint as well. As the weather conditions have been perfect and as there weren`t any climbs, everbody had the chance to take part in the final sprint and consequently there were once more many crashes due to the nervous atmosphere.
Even though I couldn`t place myself among the firsts, I had three competition days in a row. Now I will spent some calmer days before starting my preparation for the Tour of Belgium.

TOUR DE PICARDIE

Tomorrow I will leave for the Tour de Picardie that will take place from Friday to Sunday. The course is not adapted to me but let`s see day by day how the situation will develop. These three competition days are for sure important in order to find the right rhythm in view of the Tour of Belgium. I hope that the weather in France will be springlike because during my training today it rained once more and this current weather starts to bother me.

RAIN

Yesterday morning I didn`t go for a ride because the weather was once again unfavourable. We are already in May but spring still keeps us waiting.
On Sunday I had taken part in the Granfondo di Breganze and then I had ridden back home so that I had made 180km in total. It had been a perfect training and apart from that a nice sport day. Among the participants had been many pro-riders. I had taken advantage of the situation and exchanged some words with colleagues that I hadn`t seen for a long time like Ballan, Furlan and Grendene (Lampre), Pavarin and Brambilla (CSF), Bandiera (Katusha)and Ferrara (Camioro).

Bye!

GIRO D'ITALIA

The Giro d`Italia started yesterday in Amsterdam and once again I am constrained to watch it in television. Like I have already said several times I am really sad that my team is not allowed to take part, particularly because I had been convinced that we would have been invited and also because the Asolo stage passes in front of my house and therefore through my training area. Well, the only thing that remains to be said from my side is “Good luck” to all of my colleagues who are taking part.
Apart from that the weather conditions were not nice during the last week so that I had to adjust my training schedule. Next week I will ride the Tour de Picardie and afterwards I will try to get over the Giro exclusion riding the Tour of Belgium. Belgium is my second home but nothing can be compared to the corsa rosa.

SWIM FOR CHILDREN

This time I am not telling you anything about cycling but I would like to talk about an important project that I am supporting: SWIM FOR CHILDREN. It is a 24hrs lasting event that will take place in Padova from Friday, 11th June at 20:00hrs to Saturday, 12th June. The idea is to collect some money in favor of the foundation “Città della Speranza” by trying to establish a Guiness World Record: as many people as possible have to swim at least one leg during these 24 hrs. As the challenge is funny and for a good cause, it is logical for me to support this event. Furthermore, as you probably know, I have already supported the “Città della Speranza” other times. If you want to get some further information you can visit http://www.swimforchildren.org
But this time I am asking you for more. I would like to form a group of riders-swimmers so that we can concentrate at a certain moment of the day and stay a bit together. Please let me know what you think about it and then, eventually, we try to organize ourselves.

FOURTH PLACE

On Saturday I was riding “Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn-Frankfurt“ in Germany. I finished fourth out of a group of 25 riders. Reflecting the race I have again split feelings. On the one hand I am happy about my placement and my shape, on the other hand the victory was closer than ever this year but I missed once again the opportunity to win a race.

The race was hard and Carrara and myself had decided to make the race difficult in order to avoid a mass sprint finish. During the climbs we attacked continuously until the group split up. Furthermore Matteo had been in a breakaway for several kilometers. At the end 25 riders fought out the victory but I had lost too much energy in closing gaps. It is a pity because I have been beaten by riders that are in general slower than me. At the end I have to consider that race as another well done one because I felt good during the climbs but I really hope that I won`t have to wait too long for the desired victory.

I will be at home now for two weeks before taking part in the Tour de Picardie.

CAMPOCROCE ON 32'58"

On Saturday I established a new personal record at the climb of Campocroce , or better at the climb of Monte Grappa. That route section is part of the 14^th stage of this year`s Giro d`Italia. I had ridden up from Semonzo within 32 minutes and 58 seconds. This is a new personal best and it is even more significant because my former record had been established last year in August after a high altitude training. This fact confirms that I am really in a good shape. I had started climbing in a regular rhythm without pushing too much but when I realized that I had good legs I decided to test myself. I was quite surprised of my time. It is really a pity that I couldn`t take part in Liège - Bastogne - Liège because for sure I would have been a protagonist.

Today at 21:00hrs I am a guest on the TV show “Teleciclismo” that will be transmitted on Telechiara. If you want to watch me, just turn on the TV ;-)

As the temperature definitely increased I am going to do a long ride on the plateau of Asiago. It will be the last intense training before the race in Frankfurt. I know that I am in a good shape and therefore I have to focus on maintaining it as long as possible.

EIGHTH PLACE

I'm sorry for haven't updated my english blog in these day but I've not much free time :(

Anyway yesterday was a great day for me: I've finished at the eighth place the Amstel Gold Race. All my training and sacrifices are returned.

Here you can see the videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGwLKjCys2k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH8YHKGnp0g

5 TO GO

The Tour of Flanders is approaching. I think it is not necessary to say that my expectations have increased after the good feeling that I had during the last races but I also start to feel some pressure. Anyway, it is a positive kind of pressure, it motivates me and helps me to focus on this important race. Furthermore it is showing that I will be among the first if everything goes the right way. Yesterday I awoke less tired than expected. I felt a lot better than on Sunday and I went for a ride. I rode easily some hours through the hills enjoying the spring. During the next days I will work on the refinement of my shape. The basis I have already established during the last months as it is impossible to prepare the Tour of Flanders in one week.

WEEKEND'S RACE REPORT

During the last weekend I took part in two races: on Saturday in the E3 Prijs in Harelbeke and on Sunday in Gent-Wevelgem.

Finishing the E3 Prijs at the ninth place I proved that I am able to keep up with the best also at important races. Cancellara, Boonen and Flecha were in the lead chased by myself, Leukemans, three Rabobank riders and Pozzato. The rest of the peleton was more than two minutes behind. During the final I lead out the sprint for Leukemans because I was quite tired. The race was really exhausting and even if I went to bed right after dinner, I still could feel the great efforts that I had made the next day. Gent-Wevelgem wasn`t a perfect race for me: I was tired and the frequency variation took its toll. At the end I have to be satisfied with my 18^th pace. It was difficult to do better because only a few riders took part in both races that weekend. These two tough days can be considered as a good training particularly with regard to the long distance of the Tour of Flanders.

CLASSICS IS COMING

Today it is a raining day here in Padova and therefore I haven`t been riding my bike so far. I hope the weather is going to be better in the afternoon. In the meanwhile, I take the opportunity to announce you my race schedule for the upcoming two weeks: the Belgian classics will start for me on Wednesday. The first station will be Waregem and then, the weekend after, I will take part in the E3 Prijs in Harelbeke and in Gent-Wevelgem. Subsequently, I will return home to refine my shape with a view to the Tour of Flanders that will be organized on Eastersunday. These upcoming 14 days are really important to draw a balance of the first part of the season.
In any case I am optimistic as I have been working hard during the last week: On Wednesday Alberto Ongarato and I rode through the Euganean Hills and the Berici Hills for more than 3,5 hours not accelerating but passing several climbs. On Thursday however I pushed: I chose a route that simulated in parts the Belgian walls. On Friday I made a long trip while on Saturday I worked on the strength and the frequency variation. I am satisfied with my shape and I feel that it is close to the ideal one :)

AT HOME

Sunday I landed in Venice and now I am at home for a couple of days. This morning I woke up to the sun and a spring-like temperature, which is nice after the cold and the snowy weather that we had in France. During eight days we rode about 1300km, always with a continuous fast rhythm. Today I can feel the physical exertion; I am tired but I am sure that all my work will pay off. In my last posts I have already told you a lot about Paris-Nice from the agonistic point of view, so here just a small summary: I am glad that I was protagonist at the stages that suited me and, of course, I am also satisfied that I had a good feeling riding my bike. The luck was on my side as, despite of the cold and the numerous falls, I remained fit.
During the next days I will train here at home and then I will leave for Belgium in order to take part in the E3 Prijs Harelbeke, Gent – Wevelgem and last but not least in the Tour of Flanders.

QUICK UPDATE

On Friday I had been really tired because of the long breakaway during the fourth stage. My legs had felt heavy due to the kilometers I had been riding in the wind the day before. Therefore I had taken it easy and I had crossed the finish line together with the sprinters.

Saturday, however, I tried once more to get in the breakaway but it was impossible. I worked very hard during the first 50km but the others were too strong so that I couldn`t manage to break away. These last two stages were tough due to the elevation profile but mainly because of the rhythm imposed by the general classification riders.

I still have difficulties in climbing but I had been aware of it before leaving for France because the tests at my well-known climbs at home had revealed that I am not yet in the perfect shape. Everything is under control and each climb that I am doing now helps me for sure to improve my skills.

Now I'm come back and I will stay at home for ten days.

150 KM BREAKAWAY

Thursday was also an eventful day for me. At kilometer 10 I had already been in a breakaway together with Timmer and later we were joined by five other riders. It was clear that the teams of the general classification riders wouldn`t have let us go too far away. I hoped they would overtake us at the last climb but they already caught up at the penultimate climb because my breakaway mates didn`t collaborate very well. Of course, after being caught by the peloton I fall back and I reached the finish with a delay of several minutes. That long breakaway confirmed me that my shape is getting better day by day. I still have to improve my climbing skills but the feeling begins to be good. It will be important to leave this stage race with a rising shape and to keep it for the upcoming classics.
Unfortunately the cold and the foul weather are going on. Let` s hope that it will change for the better when going to the south.

TENTH PLACE

This morning I awoke to find the ground covered in a layer of snow. This didn`t signalize an ideal day to ride the bike. Fortunately the race organizer decided to shift the start by 50km along the stage route. Therefore we missed the two first climbs of the stage. The sun came out along the day and the streets became rideable again. The final climb of today`s stage had been scheduled four kilometers before the finish and as I had imagined there was a scrap for the first positions. I managed to place myself rather in front but not among the first. After Martin`s attack we crossed the summit lined up but then a gap opened up and I was cut. Consequently, I had to settle for competing in the sprint of the peloton. I gained once more a tenth place. Perhaps I should have tried to answer the attack if I had been better placed but being 12th I really was behind the first. It was just about a moment: behind we were looking at each other waiting for someone to close the gap while the riders in front collaborated well and departed.

From tomorrow on the race will be more difficult and therefore the climbers and general classification riders will show up.

WORKING FOR THE MASS SPRINT

Today I had the classic role of a team helper. I rode at the head of the peleton and I gave my everything. Four kilometers from the finish I stretched the group to take no risks and to abet the sprint of Bozic. I was able to lead the group during a whole kilometer which isn`t easy because of the incredible high speed in the proximity of the finish. At the end Bonnet won the stage and Bozic had to settle for the ninth place. I especially like tomorrow`s stage. I am convinced that I will be again protagonist, if I have good legs like during the last two days.

EIGHTH PLACE

Today was the first stage of Paris-Nice from Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines to Contres (203.5km). I finished in the eighths place. The stages elevation profile didn`t show any difficulties but the wind made it grueling. Due to the wind the peleton had formed echelons that also caused several falls. Once again I had been in the right breakaway together with fourteen other riders. Unfortunately I made the wrong choices during the final sprint. I was too far behind and therefore I was locked. In order to avoid a fall I had to decelerate and satisfy me with a placement. I am quite embittered because it really could have been the chance to gain a victory. In any case today I proved that I am in shape and there are still many stages left for me to attack but at the moment the anger is dominating my thoughts because of the missed occasion.

PARIS

Now I'm in Paris to ride the Paris-Nice from tomorrow to next sunday. Here you can see my wednesday race (gp Le Samyn), I finished at se sixth in the mass sprint.

WELL DONE

I have been at home since Saturday evening and Sunday I allowed myself a rest day after an exhausting week. Omloop Het Nieuwsblad went well. One the one hand because the weather was wonderful and this is already sufficient to be optimistic, on the other hand because I crossed the finish line in the first group that arrived behind Flecha. He did a fantastic performance and was the strongest rider; both facts were underlined by his victory. I was always in the lead of the race even though the situation changed several times in between the walls and cobblestone sections: groups were formed; the peleton was split up into small parts etc. But in any case I was ahead during the important situations of the race. During the final Bozic managed to re-enter the group behind Flecha, so I started to work for him in order to gain the second place but it didn`t work out. The signs have been positive as arriving among the first riders in such a race shows that the work that I had done during the winter pays off. I am not yet at 100% of my shape, but when I will be in top shape I hope I can have some fun during the classics.

Omloop Het Volk

Thursday I finished the Ruta del Sol. I placed myself two times and I rode a lot of kilometers. During the last stage it was raining once more and I wasn`t very brilliant: after realizing that I could hardly follow the best riders during the climbs, I worked for Bozic in order to reenter the peleton for the sprint. Unfortunately we didn`t manage to line up among the first and as a consequence we stopped working and arrived some minutes behind the winner.
After the Ruta del Sol I went directly to Belgium where I am taking part today in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad that is also known as Omloop Het Volk. It is the first of the Flemish classics and due to the climate in February it might be even more challenging. Today`s race will start and finish in Gent and the course includes 12 walls and several cobblestone sections. In summary Omloop Het Nieuwsblad can be equated with the more renowned classics and it is also is a test for them as it is ridden on the same roads and as it helps to adapt to the cobblestones.

TRAINING DAYS

The two weeks without races have passed by so fast. Tomorrow I will go to Spain to take part in the Ruta del Sol and afterwards I will compete in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and in Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne.

During the last days I was feeling better as my cold had gone so I rode many kilometers in order to improve the quality and quantity of the training. Last Friday I made the ascent to Campocroce that will be included in the Giro d`Italia this year, but due to the snow I had to turn back at the junction to the summit of Monte Grappa. While I was riding my bike I thought that it would be really nice to take part in my first Giro d`Italia. Let`s keep the fingers crossed.
During my longest training ride (200 km), I didn`t feel good but I think that was due to the hard training that I had already done the other days. Furthermore the weather didn`t have any positive effect on my mood as it was a grey day but at least the temperature was ok.

BIRTHDAY

Yesterday it was my birthday: I became 26. It was a real winter day and it seems that it should be like that to make me celebrate my birthday at my warm house in order to cure the cold that I had got in France.
Luckily the weather forecast had been wrong and the big amount of snow stayed away so that today I can ride my bike in order to burn off the cake :-)

HOME

Like I have expected, I adapt myself better to the rhythm of the peleton day by day. Even though it`s just the beginning of the new season, some riders are already in a very good shape.
Friday`s stage was a odyssey for me. The rain during the first 50 kilometers had boded ill and indeed a lot of unpleasant things accumulated: I broke my bike, the replacement took more time than expected, when re-entering the peleton it had split up and I found myself behind, and then, immediately after reaching the leading group I had another mechanic problem and as a consequence I had to stop again.
Despite of all these problems I was able to work for Bozic during the final. He finished second.
You can imagine that a stage like this is really exhausting from the mental point of view as well as from the physical one.

Now I'm at home and i will recover from these first race.

Photo: Régis GARNIER/www.velofotopro.com

BIS

Yesterday we won another victory thanks to Bozic; our team works really well. We were able to control the race and during the final Ongarato and I did a super job by leading out the sprint for Borut. I could have also placed myself considering that, although raising my arms in order to exult, I finished 11th.
Today we have to try to do the triple. The stage is suited for a mass sprint, so let`s hope that we can go on like this

FIRST WIN

I suppose you already know that Bozic won the first stage of the Étoile de Bessèges yesterday. It was his first race this year and at one fell swoop he managed to win the stage and to get the leaders jersey. Hoogerland`s second place really was a good omen :-)
Yesterday I worked for Borut leading out the sprint until the 300m mark. Our good teamwork that had already allowed us to achieve important results during the last season worked out right away. For sure it is also thanks to our new team member Alberto Ongarato that we are able to demonstrate our strength already at the first occasions.

FIRST RACE

The first race of the new season went well for our team: Hoogerland finished in the second place and Feillu won the sprint of the peleton. My personal trial was favourable, at my debut I couldn`t have asked for more. Rather, I was quite impressed by my shape during the last climb: I didn`t have any problems to stay with the peleton and I could have also tried to attack but my teammates were in the breakaway group, so consequently I awaited the movements of the adversaries. During the final I still had enough power to lead out the sprint for Feillu.

From today until Sunday I ride the stage race “Étoile de Bessèges”. Let`s hope that Hoogerland`s second place has been a good omen.

TWO DAYS TO GO

The official team presentation on Tuesday heralded the start of the competition season. I will take part in my first race on Sunday in France.Like you can see in the picture we are a really nice group. Thanks to the two recent training camps in Spain we got to know each other and we hope that we are going to have some fun and satisfying results during the year.Personally I can`t wait any longer. I feel good and without pressure because I consider the first races as a supplemental training. Anyway, good results are always welcome.

TEAM PRESENTATION

After the traninig camp in Spain I've been at home only for few days because today there is the official team's presentation in Neterlands.

In 31 january I will make my season`s debut at the ˈGP La Marseillaiseˈ. The training camp in Spain was really fruitful. I accumulated kilometers and I already felt in a good shape. Riding my bike I was comfortable also because of the sun and the heat. During the next days I will recover a little because - as I have told you already – it is going to be a long season and I want to be able to compete at a high level in spring.

ELITE FOR HAITI

I inform you about an interesting initiative of our technical supplier Elite:

Let’s do something to help the people of Haiti. Elite, the leading Italian company in the cycling sector has decided to hit the field immediately to help the people of Haiti, the Caribbean island that was recently devastated by a terrible earthquake.
The initiative is called “Elite for Haiti”, and it calls for immediate production and distribution of a special water bottle with the colours of the Haitian flag and two hands reaching out to each other in a universal symbol of aid. All proceeds will be donated to charity.
“Through the media we’ve learned that the lack of drinking water is one of the foremost emergencies on the island – explains Elite Marketing Director Alessio Sartore -. These water bottles will not only serve to quench the thirst of athletes, but we hope that they can contribute to bringing water and aid to the Haitian people”.
This Elite proposal aims to be purely charitable, serving no commercial gain whatsoever.
“The production costs of the Elite water bottles for Haiti will be entirely sponsored by the company and proceeds from their sale will be donated entirely to charitable organizations for the people of Haiti through the Doctors of Médecins sans Frontières - continues Alessio Sartore-. With a simple gesture you can do something important to help those in need. In these hours our staff is working hard to get the initiative up and running. Presumably the water bottle will be available in most cycling shops starting in early February”.

NEW JERSEY

The start of the season is approaching. Here is the first picture of me wearing the new jersey.

15 days to go…

Now we are close to the new season: the races will restart in two weeks. As I had finished the last season even before half of the Vuelta was done, I will attach my backnumber for the first time after almost five months at the “GP La Marseillaise” on Sunday, January 31st . Here in Benidorm the weather is good and I am taking advantage of it in order to work precisely. With the number of kilometers that I have ridden so far, I certainly can`t be outstanding during the first races but the work that I am doing now is fundamental for the whole season. After my debut I will ride the “Étoile de Bessèges” from February 3rd to February 7th. It is a short stage race which should already allow me to find a round pedal stroke.