Alberto - tell us how you climb. You climb in such an explosive way, you ride out of
the saddle. Why do you use such a different style than may other riders, like Chris Froome
for example?
Definitely, always in my life when I started cycling I had the same style. Now, when you
are in the training camp you're also training with more time in the saddle. But in the crucial
moment, for me it's good when I go out of the saddle. Maybe my heart rate can be 4,
5 (beats per minute) higher, but the feeling in my legs, the pain is better, I can put
more power in the pedals. And then refresh, a little bit.
Do you ride to power, or do you just feel?
I feel. Of course, when you are in the race and the team is pulling full gas or the other
team are looking at numbers, you know what is the situation of the race. But the problem
also is that when you look and the wattage is not very high and you have a bad feeling...
...Like me now!
...today is not your day.
What kind of training do you do for the long climbs on your own?
Now, in the winter, in the first month of training, you need to look for the power and
have the maximum that you can in the saddle. Because if you can go a long time, for 1 hour
in the saddle you will be more fresh for the last moment, for the attack. Also, when I
need to put in big power, I go out of the saddle maybe for 20 minutes.
20 minutes? There's some Alberto fans! So you ride for 20 minutes out of the saddle?
That's incredible.
Sometimes in the beginning, in the first part of the year I have more pain in my arms than in my legs!
Do you do any other exercises? Because just riding for one minute out of the saddle hurts
your arms. Do you do press-ups or is it just your body that gets used to riding for long periods?
It's my body. I don't need training in this. For example, I remember in the past I looked
at different videos of [Marco] Pantani, I remember I look after a stage of the Giro or the Tour,
he has always a big motivation to go there, but I cannot go here! After one minute, I
have the legs psshoo! But if I go here, I can go for a long time.
So early in the stage you're keeping the peloton 'tranquillo' with a low gear and save the
power for later.
Yes, because sometimes it's a shorter climb which is not in the profile and if you have
25 or 26 in the back you can go with more cadence than other guys.
Save that little bit of energy, save the muscles?
Save the energy for putting up to 53/19 or 18 for attacks.
Incredible.
Which ratios do you have? Do you ride a 39 or a 36? 34?
39. You need to analyse the profile. Here in the Giro, I think this year will be a little
bit different than other Giros but I remember 2011 and 2008, after 10 stages you put on the
34 and the rest of the Giro you go with 34. Because they are very steep climbs and you
need to save maximum energy.
For climbs like the Zoncolan and the very steep ones you need the 34.
Mortirolo, Gardeccia, yeah, a lot of long climbs.
Now...
...you're tired?
I'm not as fit as you! We're doing nearly 300 watts, I'm a bit overweight...
...I'm 45...
He's bullying me, I don't believe it!
Hey, come on! Let's go!
This is not possible! You are not professional, you need to train more!
I was a professional...10 years ago!
Now is the moment for attack.
Yeah. Goodbye! Go!
I'm finished.
And now is the moment!
Incredible.