Dangerous outsider Ciccone makes key decision and uses World Championship as first step toward new ambitions

“I feel better,” he says, comparing his situation in Rwanda with that in Zurich to Bici.Pro. "Last year, I didn't ride the entire Vuelta; I only did part of it, and then I felt sick. And above all, I rode the Tour, so it was a completely different preparation. Instead, this year I did altitude training, followed by San Sebastian, Burgos, and the Vuelta. So I was in much better shape anyway."

In the Vuelta a España, the 30-year-old Italian started as one of the outsiders, but an infection in his buttocks disrupted his plans. He got sick and had to take antibiotics. “I took them for a week, but during the Vuelta, so I had time to recover. The last few days at home, I felt excellent; the numbers were convincing.”

It was difficult not to let the pressure off after the Tour of Spain. "More recovery was needed, followed by some training, but the first few days were all about recovery. Let's say that the hardest thing is that after a big tour you're used to letting go completely, especially mentally, but with the World Championships so close, you can't switch off at all.“

With second place in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and victory in the Clásica San Sebastián, Ciccone showed that he is one of the best riders in the hilly classics. “But in three-week stage races, it's a fact that I can't finish due to physical problems,” he now knows after the Vuelta. “It's not a question of fitness or belief, even though Michele (Bartoli, his coach, ed.) believes in it.”

“After 8-9 days, my body gives up; it's always been that way. So I think I need to make better use of my strengths. Now that I have the stats, I feel more confident in shorter races and in the classics. I use that motivation to perform better.” So we'll see Ciccone more often in one-day races, starting with the World Championships.

There, he will have to compete against the two top favorites, Remco Evenepoel and Tadej Pogacar. The latter still has a score to settle after the time trial. “Remco is very confident, but sometimes confidence can backfire. And when I saw that scene, I almost got nervous and fantasized about what Tadej must have felt. I have a feeling that the race will start early and that our group will have to be there.”