Elia Viviani fait partie de ces coureurs qu'on ne présente plus. Champion title in Olympique de omnium, multiple stage winner on the Giro and Vuelta, it totals 18 Win anything that 2018. The Italian champion road is one of the best sprinters in the world and will be highly anticipated season, with a view to a win over Milan-San Remo or a stage of the Tour de France in particular. I had the pleasure to talk with him following his very successful start to the season in Australia, punctuated by two victories. Here is his interview
Cycling Times : What are your thoughts on the past season, Were you surprised to be at this level ? You have shown a great consistency throughout the year
EV : Last season was incredible for me, with big results throughout the year, I worked hard at it, and I really thought I had the potential to do that. The team then made the difference, they created a great group around me, Sabatini, Morkov, Senechal and all other, a good race program, So now it seems simple but it was not. I dreamed of such a season but I'm not surprised, I'm back to where I wanted to be.
CT : Think you can do better this year ? I remember your emotion after Gent-Wevelgem ... Do you have a "revenge" to take on this race ?
EV : We can always do better, when I look at the past year, I can improve on conventional, Milan-San Remo and Gent-Wevelgem first, and then I have one step from the Tour de France ....
CT : And what about your victories on the stage 1 Tour Down Under and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race ? Are you in the form you were hoping for this season ?
EV : Yes, I had a great winter, I finished my season 2018 à la fin of the Tour, I had a good time training at home in Monaco and at the training camp in Spain, to which I added the qualitative work on track and I'm happy with the form I showed in Australia, step 1 du Tour Down Under, et la Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, it's a great way to start my season 2019
CT : Tell us a little of your goals for next year ... Do you aim to race the Tour de France to try to win a first stage victory ?
EV : First I want to show my level of last year is my level now so classic Milan-San Remo and Gent-Wevelgem is the first big objective of the season, Giro d'Italia is the second, my champion's jersey from Italy I feel I need to go there. I want to do the Tour de France, but we need to see what will happen during the first part of the season.
CT : A word about your career track racer. After your title to the Olympics 2016, do you focus on the road, or have you in mind the next Olympics in Tokyo next year ?
EV : The Olympic gold medal is my greatest victory, it is different from all the other victories, there is something more. Then yes, I'd be back on track 2020 for the Olympics, I want to defend my title, and the national team now has a very competitive team pursuit. I'm also excited by Madison, I'm glad the race is back on the Olympic program.
CT : Finally, what do you think of your business ? We know that it's not always easy to travel throughout the year all over the world ... The fact that Elena (Cecchini) shares the same passion I suppose helps you ?
EV : To be honest, I'm feeling lucky, because I do what I love and it's also my job, so it's easy, I enjoy every moment of my cycling career. Elena is really great, it includes every situation, she always has the right words at the right time and helps me a lot, each season we try to better organize our race program and our trainings camps to be able to see up but we live a good life together.
A big thank you to Elia Viviani for this beautiful exchange, and good luck for classic !
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