“I have dreamed of donning the Italian champion tricolour jersey since I started racing in the youth categories, many moons ago. It may seem incredible, but sometimes dreams do come true”.
Simone Velasco’s dream came true just six kilometres shy of the finish line when, after a race which resembled a 227 kilometre-long chess game on the highly demanding circuit of Comano Terme, it became clear that the 2023 Italian National Champion would soar forward from a final rush involving just 7 riders.
“Considering who made up the group, I know that many would have bet on other names, but I am aware that I have a very good sprint which is at its best in this type of finish with just a handful of riders. There was that final bend and I realised that I would only be able to make the most of my abilities if I tried to anticipate my opponents. I attacked from the outside and found a way in. By then, there were no obstacles before me. They were probably the best two hundred metres in my entire life. At least up until now”.
Simone’s good season began in Sagunto, in the third stage of the Setmana Valenciana, with a sprint which strikingly resembled the final rush at Comano Terme. At the Giro d’Italia too, the new Italian National Champion ranked a good 26th place in the general classification.
“I had my sights set on winning one stage of the Giro d’Italia. I tried on several occasions, but I shared this goal with many other riders. Nevertheless, now I’m not sure I would trade a stage success at the Giro d’Italia with this win. Because I’ll be wearing the tricolour jersey for a whole year. On all the cycling roads ”.
However, the Italian championship of team Astana Qazaqstan was not limited to Simone Velasco’s victory. It can boast no less than three athletes in the first ten in order of arrival: Christian Scaroni and Samuele Battistella came in at ninth and tenth places.
“I think that the order of arrival clearly explains how our team was one of the leading players of the race. Samuele Battistella put me in the best conditions to achieve this spectacular result. I am only sorry that, due to cramps, he fell behind from the little group which clinched the victory. I believe that in his heart he wanted to cash in on the credit from last year’s unfortunate Italian championship outcome, but I hope that this victory of mine will make him equally happy. Because this truly was a collective victory for the Astana Qazaqstan Team. No-one excluded”.