A few hours after the Teams Presentation in Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence, Giulio Ciccone spoke to the media ahead of the Italian Grand Départ of Tour de France 2024. For the Abruzzo native, this is the fourth participation in the Grande Boucle, a race that has often seen him the protagonist of escapes and attacks: he wore the yellow jersey for a few days in 2019 and then won the polka-dot jersey last year, without count the two second places in the stage at La Planche des Belles Filles 2019 and at Laruns 2023.
The new season didn’t start in the best way with the forced operation for a perineal cyst, but the return to racing seems to have immediately put him back on the right track. 8th at the Giro del Dauphiné, 7th at the Italian Championship, Ciccone aspires to a Tour as a primary player with his Lidl-Trek. Here’s what he told the media:
On the great Italian start and the first stages: «It’s a beautiful emotion, every Grand Départ is, but this one will be even more so. I can’t wait for the Teams Presentation. I know the routes of the first few days well but my approach to the first week will not change, I will have to be ready and alert in every situation. They will be stressful days, but luckily the altitude will make them a little more selective. I hope to be there up front to compete, even if we have Mads Pedersen who can aspire to the first yellow jersey.”
On his role in the team: «Tao Geoghegan Hart was supposed to be our leader for the general classification and I was the free hitter, with his absence things change a little but I won’t have any stress in making the classification. The first busy week and the Galibier will immediately clarify many things, so I will understand very soon what kind of Tour I can do. I definitely won’t waste time on purpose.”
On the goals and the polka dot shirt: «It’s difficult to say whether the polka dot jersey will be within my reach again, because the number 1 goal will be to win a stage. If I were to find myself in a fight, however, I certainly wouldn’t back down. I’m curious to see how the leg will respond after the first week of running.”
On the first part of the season: «The original plan both last year and this year was the Giro, but there was no way to go. This 2024 did not start in the best way, but we were good at getting back on our feet. It is not easy to change plans on the fly, but fortunately in February I had already understood that I could not do the Giro so I made a mental switch and now I have been training intensely for 3 months for this new goal. At the Dauphiné we were already in shape and now we can aspire to do a good Tour. I was sick for 3 days after the Dauphiné, I got covid, but nothing serious, it should not affect my condition. In fact, maybe I will even arrive fresher. A stage victory or another polka dot jersey would make this season extremely positive anyway».
On teammate Mads Pedersen: «It’s a privilege to have Mads as a teammate, he’s a great motivator and a rider who goes fast everywhere. If I can help him I will gladly do so, because I know that he will also give me a great hand in entering the breakaway in the mountain stages.”
On the favorite of the Tour de France: «In my opinion the big favorite is Tadej Pogačar. He is superior to everyone, but I’m sure that many will try to put him in difficulty. We are at the Tour, no one will give up easily and I expect a battle from day one.”
