Since the season opener of his first junior season, Alessio Magagnotti has already won 8 victories and we don’t even consider his placings. He has won in Italy and abroad, triumphs in road races but also in time trials. It’s easy to say that a first-year junior should be left alone, away from the spotlight, but when you have such a roadmap it’s inevitable that attention will fall on you…
That we were faced with a talent was clear since last year, from his many successes among the students (albeit weighed considering the category) and from his international success at the Eyof with the silver medal. Many had knocked on his door to move up the category with their team and in the end Magagnotti had chosen Autozai Contri.
Did this dazzling start surprise the team leaders? The answer is from its General Manager Enrico Mantovanelli: «We have always been convinced of its value, but we know that moving up a category is always an unknown. But we certainly didn’t expect such an explosion. We were ready to let him experience a first season of approach and then explode in the second, but he caught everyone off guard. The first 4 races were those of apprenticeship, even with a bit of bad luck, then all his potential came out ».
How do you plan to handle it now?
It is our primary interest to protect it, in some ways even limit it because it still has to grow, especially in the mental aspect, must not wear out, we are always talking about a 17 year old boy. In this period he is working on the track together with the national team.
This is news: are you in contact with Salvoldi?
Yes, Alessio is part of the blue group both for the road and the track. The city is keen that he, like the others, works a lot on the ring to improve power and resistance, but I know that his use for the European and world championships on the track is also in the pipelineis in the pursuit group, then naturally it will be up to Salvoldi to decide how to use him.
Watching his races and also talking about his latest victories with his national teammate Montagner, Magagnotti is highlighted as a pure sprinter. Is it really like that?
I think that’s a reductive view of his talent. Alessio is certainly very fast, but he is also someone who holds up very well on not too long climbs. I’ll give you an example: on April 25th the Montes Cup took place, which is one of the toughest classics on the Italian category calendar. Yet he finished 3rd, he was among the most active uphill. I believe, but this is my personal thought, that passing among the pros and continuing to grow like this, he will become one of those sprinters who will do the group sprints, but he will also be able to compete in the demanding classics, the Belgian ones. I see a really bright future for him. But it must grow calmly, without haste.
However, these results do not change the prospects, do they make an anticipated category change closer, even too much so?
I know that Alessio is a boy with a head on his shoulders. As mentioned, there were many unknowns when switching categories, in a new world, having freedom in the use of ratios. We want it to continue to grow calmly, making his experiences and carefully evaluating every move.
It is clear, however, that his successes will have attracted the attention of many teams…
It was like this last year too, now there are many teams from the WorldTour chain at the door and they would clearly like to bring him to them, maybe even make him skip the second year but Alessio has entrusted himself as agent to the experience of Manuel Quinziato, who has long been a rider before a manager and knows what is best for him. We talk to Manuel very often, he appreciates how we are working with the boy, especially what they are doing in the staff, from director Emiliano Donadello to the trainer Davide Bastianello. Furthermore, Alessio comes from a balanced family, which supports him in the right way. The conditions to continue to improve are all there, but proceed slowly.
Alessio is still in a very important physiological development phase and this is also a factor to consider.
Magagnotti already has a very developed physique, but he is clearly growing. What impresses me is his huge engine, combined with a head, a concentration that you struggle to find even in much bigger runners. Alessio knows what he has to do and Manuel’s closeness is a guarantee.
So where will we see it next year?
Still with us, to face the second year as a junior with a lot more experience and an even more defined physique. If it gives me so much…
