'I physically can't finish off three-week races' – Ciccone shifts focus, eyes Worlds success

With another Grand Tour in the legs in the form of the Vuelta a España, Ciccone (Italy) believes he’s in the optimal condition to lead the Italian team on Sunday in an attritional road race.

"I'm feeling better. Last year, I didn't race the entire Vuelta, I only did part of it, and then I felt sick. And above all, I did the Tour, so it was a whole different preparation," Ciccone explained to Bici.pro. "This year, however, I did the altitude, then I did all the classics, San Sebastian, Burgos, the Vuelta, so I was definitely in better shape."

The 30-year-old started the Vuelta as one of the strongest and in-form riders after a fine month of August, which included victory at the Donostia Klasikoa San Sebastian and the final stage of the Vuelta a Burgos. 

Ciccone was asked how much confidence winning the Donostia Klasikoa San Sebastian has given him, and the Italian suggested much so, but also revealed an interesting insight.

“A lot, especially for one-day races. It’s a fact that in three-week stage races, for physical reasons, I can’t finish off. It’s not about condition or belief, even if my coach Michele Bartoli still believes," said Ciccone. 

"After eight-nine days, my body collapses, it has always been that way. So I think I should make the most of my characteristics. And right now, with the data in hand, I’m better in shorter races and Classics. I use that motivation to start performing well," he said.

At the Vuelta, the Italian came close to victory on stage 2, only to be passed just shy of the line by Jonas Vingegaard in an uphill sprint to Limone Piemonte. Ciccone continued to be spritely in the opening week before fading from GC after suffering from illness, which required antibiotics mid-race.

However, Ciccone’s comments suggest that he has recovered well. "In the last few days at home, the feeling was very good, the numbers were convincing," he said.

The main challenge following racing the Spanish Grand Tour has been mental rather than physical for the Italian, in terms of having to prepare for the World Championships. "Usually, after a Grand Tour, you're used to switching off, especially mentally, but with the World Championships so close, you don't switch off at all. So let's say it's probably more mental stress than physical."

Ciccone also weighed in on some of the standout contenders for the rainbow jersey when asked if he thinks Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia) will want to make a statement after being caught and passed by Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) in the individual time trial.

“Remco will have a lot of confidence, but sometimes confidence can backfire. And when I saw that scene, I almost got nervous and imagined what Tadej must have felt. I feel like the race will heat up soon, and we'll have to be there with our group,” he sad.

For Ciccone, if he can show the levels that he found in August, a podium is a realistic possibility, and he can be the first to medal in the elite men's road race since Matteo Trentin took silver in 2019 in Harrogate.