ProTeam Elia Viviani before the start of Bredene Koksijde Classic: “I will take on the role the team expects from me”
The season has begun for Elia Viviani. With GP Criquielion and GP Monseré, he rode his first races for Lotto Cycling Team in early March. The goal was to regain race rhythm after a January focused on track cycling. Tomorrow, it’s time for the Bredene Koksijde Classic, where Viviani will have, among others, Alec Segaert, Jasper De Buyst, and Lionel Taminiaux by his side. “I missed it,” says Elia Viviani. “I felt it right away when I raced that Saturday and Sunday two weeks ago. On Saturday, I suffered, but by Sunday, I already felt much better. I certainly don’t feel too good to take on a support role—I already showed that. I was there in the final, I could mix in with the peloton. And I hope to improve in every race.”
The numbers don’t lie: Viviani is far from finished. Although he was without a team this past winter, he kept training hard, with his sights set on the European Championships on the track in Zolder. “My hunger is not yet satisfied. In recent years, I wasn’t happy because I felt like I had more to give on the road. I didn’t want to stop with that feeling. I’d rather finish my career knowing I gave everything I had. That doesn’t mean I’m claiming I’ll win 15 or 18 races this year. I’m realistic, of course. But I do want to win again.”
“By joining Lotto, I made the choice to fully trust in the team’s expertise. I am guided by one of the team’s coaches and follow everything they prescribe. I want to fully immerse myself and take on the role the team deems necessary to win. That shows belief in what you do and what the team does—I think that’s important. I’m already very happy with what we’ve achieved together in the past month. My numbers are good, I’ve had two solid training blocks, and I’ve made great progress. I’m really looking forward to Friday.”
Picture: PhotoNews
