At the Boucles de la Mayenne, a 2.Pro category stage race in France, Alberto Bettiol achieved his second victory of the season. The Tuscan also achieved his first victory in a stage race in the Loire Valley region. It is now located in Livignoto fix his leg in view of the Tour of Switzerland and the subsequent Tour de France.
«I have been in retreat for a few days – says Bettiol – and I will remain there until Thursday, then on Friday 7 June I will run the Grosser Preis des Kantons Aargau. With the Tour of Switzerland starting two days later, on Sunday. This one in Livigno, for logistical reasons, is the last part of training before the Tourgiven that the Grande Boucle will begin on June 29th from Florence.”
Important victory
Bettiol collected his second victory of the season in France, a good way to return to racing after the spring break.
«It was a good first step – continues Bettiol – let’s even say the best result I could have achieved. I hadn’t been competing for a few weeks, I didn’t have a clear idea of what my current level might be. I’m keeping this victory close to me, it means that things are going well but I don’t get upset. The real objectives are others and they are arriving now.”
How did you manage the break after the Classics?
I returned to my family in Tuscany, I had been missing for a long time and coming back is always nice. I never stopped training, I just lowered the pace. On May 1st I went to retreat with the team in Sierra Nevada before going to France and getting back into racing.
It’s a 2024 that often sees you present among the first in the race, did you change anything during the winter?
As far as training goes, no. I think I have had greater continuity, given the absence of setbacks or misfortunes. The only crash of the season came in Harelbeke. I’m satisfied with the first part of the season, perhaps I could have done better at the end of the Classics.
What are your ambitions for going to the Tour?
I hope to get there in good shape, I’m working for this. It’s the race that precedes the Olympics, there will be no shortage of motivation. It would be fantastic to win a stageI came close twice. Then let’s not forget that the Grande Boucle starts from Italy, precisely from Florence. Most likely I will be the only Tuscan runner in the group, being there is a unique opportunity. So much so that since the official announcement I asked the team to be able to participate.
Could the yellow jersey in Florence be an objective?
It’s hard, very hard. But you never know. The final circuit is tough with a lot of altitude difference, but we are in the Tour, there will be the best riders in the world. The yellow jersey is the most coveted in the group, everyone will want to win the first one.
And after the Tour comes the Olympics, what race will it be?
Strange, the Olympics are always strange. To do well you will need to have depth and I think it is impossible to control it. In my head it resembles a stage in the third week of the Tour, with a breakaway of 30 riders fighting for victory.
Your name, among the three that Bennati will have to name, is the most popular.
Officially I haven’t been selected yet. I talked about it with the city and we agree, like everyone else, that the best race to prepare for the Olympics is the Tour. The five-circle race comes exactly two weeks after the arrival of Nice. Training at home and thinking of simulating a Tour is impossible, all the best will pass through there.
You already have Olympic experience under your belt, could this be an advantage at Tokyo 2021?
I would not say. Tokyo wasn’t an Olympics, we were all isolated and far from the village. In Paris there will be more opportunities to experience the Olympic atmosphereexperiencing “Casa Italia” more and coming into contact with all the medal-winning athletes.
Was it also very different in terms of racing?
It was very similar to a World Cup. There were many more athletes competing and the teams, although smaller, were better equipped. We as Italy had five athletes in Tokyo 2021, while in Paris there will be three. The dynamics will change a lot compared to three years ago: the kilometers were 234 with a harder route. In Paris we will run a longer distance, 275 kilometers, but they will be less demanding. Everything will be different.
