These days Andrea Raccagni Noviero he is in France, at the Tour de Bretagne, with the aspiration of continuing the positive series of results he has achieved in this first part of the season. The Genoese runner is increasingly coming to the fore in team I have to of Soudal Quick Step and it comes from a very important podium, at the Ghent-Wevelgem category which confirmed how the investment made by the Belgian multinational was far-sighted.
Artz, fleeing secretly
At the end of the race the Ligurian was beaten in the sprint for second place by the Dane Pedersenhe had no great regret for the victory that slipped away long before, when the Dutch Artz he took courage with both hands by launching the breakaway which later proved to be decisive.
«When someone like that wins, with a very respectable CV – he says – you just have to accept the verdict of the street, I’m more than happy with my third place. I came from a period of lack of brilliance, this race was a goal and having partially achieved it is a source of pride. Among other things, I didn’t know he was on the run and they then warned me from the flagship that he was attacking Harteel, a teammate, so I couldn’t move. When the latter was caught, I hoped that the wind would give us a hand to catch the fugitive, but I also had to think about the sprint.”
You’ve run 15 days so far, how did they go overall?
The judgment is positive, even if when you don’t win you always have a bitter taste in your mouth. The first part was good with 3 podiums in 4 days of competition, then before the category Roubaix which I was very keen on, I felt bad sensations, even though I continued to go fast. After the Roubaix (finished in 35th place, ed.) I started to feel better and at that point I was waiting for my chance.
Given your results, you are increasingly identified as a sprinter, but does this definition reflect you?
I don’t like it very much, I’m convinced that I’m not or at least not just that. I’m more of a long distance rider with good momentum, who also fights in crowded sprints, but it goes from this to being a leading sprinter. On 5″ I struggle to go beyond 1,350 watts and these numbers say that you need more to win. This is also reflected in training, where I should do test sprints, but I often have a bit of rejection towards certain jobs.
And which ones do you prefer?
I like struggling uphill more, even if I know that I will never be able to emerge on those terrains because I have too much weight to carry around, being over 75 kilos. I believe that the most correct definition is a classics rider, strong in pace and capable of emerging even on complicated routes, able to make the difference in the sprint when the group is small.
However, these results are important for the project you had already announced: earning a pro contract at the end of the year…
To tell the truth, I expect an answer even sooner. When I was a junior I was convinced that three years in the upper category would be necessary to find my dimension and learn what was necessary, but then you realize that this world is in a tremendous hurry and by the second year you can already hear the clock jingling. It is clear that all these results are hay on the farm, they are used to be seen, but for me it is necessary to find that blessed contract to have more security. A few days ago I was thinking about the future: I could also switch to a continental, but those economic security wouldn’t be there, on the contrary. In my opinion, the difference is precisely this: in a WorldTour structure you have your back covered for a good period of time.
What do they say in the team?
There is a lot of sensitivity towards me, my results are also leading to reviewing the programs. After Bretagne I had to stop and take the high ground for the Giro Next Gen, but they want to take me with the senior team to the 4 Days of Dunkirk where on at least 4 stages I would also be the man in charge of the sprint. It’s a great demonstration of trust even if nothing is certain yet.
Objectively, would you make the choice to go abroad again?
Without any doubt, although I must say that, compared to when I passed, I see that some Italian teams are increasingly better equipped, work well and are growing in level. There was a gap that they are closing, but being in a team still makes a difference.
In your group do you feel the influence of what happens “at the top”, i.e. in the senior team which certainly has not achieved outstanding results in the classics?
The division between the two entities is very strong, despite the fact that one can occasionally pass into the other group. They don’t make us burden the situation, they want us to continue working calmly and thinking about our races. We have the feeling that they want to fill out the team with the best of our team, to make it the backbone of tomorrow and in fact they tell us that if we have quality we will have room to show off and emerge. We continue to work hard, we hope that this brings what we want, me first and foremost…
