Q: Your 2010 season ended early than your past seasons: in relation to this, did you begin to early after the winter break?
A: “In effect my last race in 2010 was Giro di Toscano that took place on 26 September, while usually my last appointment was Giro di Lombardia. So, now I find myself already pedalling, since I began trainings in the early days of November”
Q: What did you do during the pause?
A: “I rest in a complete way for some days, dedicating all my attentions to my family: this year, in addition to my daughter Ludovica, there’s my son Cristian too, who was born in August. There’s nothing better than spending time with your family after a long season during which you travel all around the world”.
Q: No cycling?
A: “In the early weeks I keep the contact with sport by attending as fans some rallys and then driving karts. Then, I began to perform in a light way physical exercises such footing, swimming with my daughter and gym. I think that gym is very useful: I performed balance gym and exercises for back and shoulder”
Q: How did you feel when you first started training on the bike again?
A: “As it happens every year, the first time I ride my bike after the winter break I feel like I had never been a cyclist: the bike seems to be something strange for my body, my back is rigid and my legs are hard. But this is a feeling that passes away soon and in the next training the bikes became again my best friend”.
- What kind of trainings have you performed until now?
“Simple trainings of 2 or 3 hours, very useful for improve the stamina. No specifical exercises”.
Q: How did you protect yourself from the cold during trainings?
A: “This year the cold has not yet been so strong, so I could simply wear short pants with leggings, long sleeves jersey, gloves and, of course, helmet”.
Q: During the party of your Fan Club, that took place on 7 November, many supporters asked you info about your trainings and your relationship with Centro Mapei: what did you answer?
A: “To all my fans I explained that I’m performing the usual trainings useful for starting again to pedal after the winter break. I added that this year I had the outstanding chance to perform tests in Centro Mapei and to be supported by the responsible of the Centroid: this was very useful in order to start to think to the next season in a precise and winning way. Of course it’s a great pleasure for me that so many fans keep asking me info about my activities and I request them to keep on letting me know their opinions”.