Kevin Pezzo Rosola is preparing to start the Giro d’Italia Next Gen with skyrocketing morale. The son of Paola Pezzo and Paolo Rosola is among the owners of General Store-Essegibi-Curia UCI Continental cataloged. “It’s a team where everything goes well and they achieve important results,” underlined the Italian coach of the Under 23s, Marino Amadori.
Kevin Pezzo Rosola last Sunday triumphed at the Peace Cup, a classic international event on the roads of Romagna. “I am experiencing the magical moment of my career – declares the under 23 from Verona, 7th place in the Milano Busseto and brilliant in other competitions – and the high performance is the result of a good winter in which I had fun practicing cyclocross”. Among other things, Kevin won the Rivalta sul Mincio (Mantua) test of the Lombardy cyclocross Trophy.
What starts tomorrow in Aosta is for Pezzo Rosola the third Giro d’Italia baby of his career. In 2022 he played it in the Tirol-Ktm jersey. “At the start of the 2022 edition I was fine, I had also just finished some professional races as I already belonged to a Continental team. Unfortunately I was unlucky at the Giro baby 2022: the fall in the second stage clipped my wings a bit, then I put myself at the service of the team.”
Now the bi-son of Pezzo Rosola is stronger. “Above all, the numbers say it – says the athlete who practiced almost exclusively off-road in the youth categories – which I check on the computer. I’m doing well, it’s the best moment of my career although in my legs since the 2024 season began I have only 12 days of road races.”
The Giro d’Italia Under 23 will start with an 8,800 kilometer time trial. “For those like me who are used to mountain bike and cyclocross races, it’s fine, the ability to release maximum power in a short time will count. I have the ambition to obtain a good result already in the time trial.”
And in the other stages?
“I have circled those of Borgomanero and Cremona in red, aware that they represent the objective for many runners who will not be able to compete in the final classification”. The General Store-Essegibi-Curia standard-bearer knows how to diversify the strategy. “In general, rather than on the altitude – says Kevin, born on 30 November 2002 – I will try to run with the right choice of time. He will try every day or almost to go on the run to get ahead of the best long-distance climbers. My hope is to hit the right escape. The last stage from Forlì to Forlimpopoli on the Settimana Coppi and Bartali roads could also suit me. It’s one of the stage races I’ve done as a professional, as well as the Tour of the Alps and others. I dream of winning a stage at the Giro Under 23″.
Father Paolo and mother Paola have a very important history in cycling, However, among bike heroes Kevin prefers 2 more contemporary stereotypes: “I have no doubt: Wout Van Aert and Peter Sagan. Both great results on the road were obtained after practicing off-road, cyclocross for Van Aert, Sagan with cyclocross and mountain biking. They have the same cycling culture as me and I hope to imitate them at least in part.”
Now his son Kevin is going strong on the road without forgetting meadows and paths: “After the Giro d’Italia I plan to compete in the Italian Gravel Championship. Last year at the tricolor in Fubine I came 4th, it is a result that I would like to improve. However, I will also race the Italian road championship. It is yet to be defined, however I could try my hand at the national professional championship together with the team. I want to accelerate to achieve important results because from January I will be elite. It is also true that Masnada, De Marchi and other riders turned professional after militancy among the elite amateurs. And in the top category they have carved out important spaces for themselves. But after the age of 22 it is more difficult to get into the good graces of professional sports groups, especially those classified as World Tours. I am improving now and I think I still have good margins: it should be considered”.
In the General Store – Essegibi-Curia the runner is directed by father Paolo Rosola. “He’s a good sports director – assures Kevin – he knows how to command respect and be listened to by us runners without raising his voice. A thoughtful DS. Instead, like dad, he’s tough, if he gets angry he screams. The Paolo Rosola dad is something else.”
