FILIPPO CONCA. «I STILL HOPE FOR A CALL, I WANT TO SHOW HOW MUCH I'M WORTH. OTHERWISE...»

INTERVIEW | 03/12/2024 | 08:18
di Francesca Cazzaniga
Filippo Conca has fulfilled the dream that all riders have, that of racing among professionals. Joining the big leagues in 2021 with Lotto Soudal, the Lecco-born rider from the class of 1998 after two seasons with the Belgian team signed a contract with Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. In four years as a professional, Conca hasn't secured any victories, but has some good placements like fifth place in the ninth stage of the 2022 Vuelta a España, top 10 at Trofeo Laigueglia in 2020 and this year at Coppa Agostoni.
Not enough, at least for now, to find a team to race with next year.
Filippo, how are you experiencing this period of uncertainty?
"I'm calm, I already have ideas for the future. I'm planning my post-career, though I hope someone might give me another opportunity because I know my worth. I'm not a champion, it's true, but I find it absurd that, despite the work I've done for teams over these years, I'm left without a team. There are several riders who risk quitting this year because they're in limbo and haven't found a team, and I risk being part of this group. I can only continue to hope and see how things develop."
Are you training?
"I'm continuing to train to maintain my form, alternating road rides with gym sessions. A preparation like all other winters, although not having a specific goal makes everything more complex. It's a difficult situation, many teams have closed their budgets, so I'm starting to think about using my economics degree."
What's the balance of your 2024?
"In terms of results, I haven't collected much, but it's also true that this year I didn't have a well-defined program and was often called at the last moment. I was always available to the team and my teammates and tried to be ready with my condition each time. I would have liked a bit more space, but that's how it went."
Would you accept racing in a Continental team and thus take a step back?
"Yes, absolutely. My goal is to continue racing, I know it won't be easy, but I feel I still have something to give to this sport. If I can't find a team, I'll launch into gravel especially to have objectives in terms of preparation and rediscover the right motivation, because training without a defined goal becomes exhausting, just as this last season was, faced without a defined program and therefore without knowing what I was working for."
But what do you see in your post-career?
"I live on Lake Como and I'm already thinking of starting a business in the tourism sector."
Would you leave cycling with a smile?
"I would leave with a smile because I know the type of person I am, but also with regret for not having been able to give what I would have wanted. I believe I lacked continuity to demonstrate the fruits of my work. At Lotto they helped me a lot, I had a great experience and for me those were two fundamental seasons, while the last two years should have gone differently. I improved in terms of numbers and performance, but that's not enough, you also need the opportunity to demonstrate your value, why not?, and also have a bit of luck and hit the right performance at the right time. However, I look at the glass half full and these are certainly great experiences."
Do you have any regrets?
"In my first year as a professional, I had various health problems that didn't allow me the right performance continuity. These are things not under our control, but which can change a career; I don't want to make excuses, indeed I would do everything again exactly as I did."
Who are your cycling friends?
"Simone Petilli and Marco Tizza, people I know I can count on."
The most beautiful moment in these four years as a pro?
"There are several: the two breakaways at the 2022 Vuelta, the Italian Championship last year and this year at Agostoni, the home race, where I knew I was without a team for next year and with the awareness that it could be my last race. I raced giving my all, body and soul."
You still hope, right?
"I'll wait until the last moment and if no call comes, I'll try gravel and there's a team that gives me this opportunity. Hope dies last. I'll leave the door open to road cycling, to then return after a year, or when and if a call arrives."

COMMENTI

Per poter commentare i post devi esser registrato.
Se sei giá nostro utente esegui il login altrimenti registrati.

TBRADIO

00:00

PROFESSIONISTI

JAYCO ALULA. IL RITORNO DI MICHAEL MATTHEWS TRE MESI DOPO IL TERRIBILE INCIDENTE

Oggi è tornato ad attaccare il numero sulla maglia, a pedalare in gruppo, praticamente è tornato a casa. Ha tagliato il traguardo di Saint-Ismier, dove si è conclusa la prima tappa del Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes al 101esimo posto con un distacco...

DONNE

VENTURELLI A SEGNO NELLA DWARS DOOR DE WESTHOEK

Seconda vittoria stagionale per Federica Venturelli che sfreccia sul traguardo della Dwars door de Westhoek. al termine di una prova di 131, 6 km, la cremonese della UAE ADQ ha preceduto nell'ordine l'olandese Uneken della VolkerWessels Cycling Team e la polacca...

DILETTANTI

COPPA DELLA PACE. UN GRANDE LORELLO SUPERA CATTANI E FRATICELLI

Riccardo Lorello ha vinto la 54sima Coppa della Pace-Trofeo Fratelli Anelli internazionale under 23 che si è svolta a Sant'Ernete di Rimini. Il fiorentino di Capraia e Limite, 20 anni della Padovani POLO Cherry Bank, si è imposto superando Alessandro...

DONNE

GIRO D'ITALIA WOMEN. LONGO BORGHINI SI PRENDE SALUZZO, VOLLERING SI PRENDE IL GIRO

Nel ciclismo femminile le emozioni non mancano mai: ne abbiamo avuto conferma lungo tutti i 145 chilometri della Saluzzo / Saluzzo, ultima tappa del Giro d’Italia Women vinta da Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE team ADQ) davanti a Niamh Fisher-Black Fisher Black...

DONNE ALLIEVE

MONTICHIARI. ASSOLO DI CASTELLI TRA LE ALLIEVE, SPRINT CERAME TRA LE ESORDIENTI. GALLERY

Assolo di Teodora Castelli nella gara allieve di Montichiari (Bs) valida per il 64. Trofeo Fiorenzo Magni-Schivardi-Rigoni. La romagnola di Faenza, della Vangi Ladies Cycling Team, ha fatto la diffrenza con una efficace azione solitaria che l’ha portata a vincere...

PROFESSIONISTI

BRUSSELS CYCLING CLASSIC. MEEUS FIRMA LO SPRINT VINCENTE

Jordi Meeus aggiunge un'altra tacca al suo palmares vincendo l'edizione numero 106 della Brussels Cycling Classic, classica belga di categoria 1.Pro alle prese in quesi anni con lo status di nobile decaduta. Sul traguardo di Brussels, al termine di 206,...

PROFESSIONISTI

RONDE DE L'OISE. ULTIMA TAPPA A SOLEN (5° SIERRA), SUCCESSO FINALE DI EDDY MA CHE SFORTUNA KONYCHEV

Il belga Keije Solen ha vinto la quarta e ultima tappa della Ronde de l'Oise, disputata sulla distanza di 182, 7 km da Beauvais a Liancourt. Il portacolori della Lotto-Groupe Wanty ha vinto per distacco e con lui sul podio...

JUNIORES

COPPE DELLE NAZIONI. TAPPE A PEZZO ROSOLA E FEDRIZZI, VITTORIA FINALE PER L'AUSTRALIANO FORSYTH

Lampi d'azzurro sulle strade venete dove è andata in scena la prova italiana di Coppa delle Nazioni. Ad alzare le braccia al cielo sono stati Patrik Pezzo Rosola che ha fatto sua la cronometro del mattino (sulla distanza di 3,...

ALLIEVI

MONTICHIARI. GHIROLDI E LA FERALPI DOMINANO IL TROFEO FIORENZO MAGNI. GALLERY

La Feralpi Monteclarense fa la voce grossa nel 64° Trofeo Fiorenzo Magni–Schivardi–Rigoni per allievi, disputato a Montichiari (Brescia), piazzando sette atleti nei primi dieci e trasformando il finale in un vero e proprio monologo in maglia verde. A firmare il...

PROFESSIONISTI

CADUTO IERI IN BELGIO, HONORÉ RESTA IN TERAPIA INTENSIVA PER FRATTURE E PNEUMOTORACE

Mikkel Honoré rimane ricoverato in terapia intensiva dopo la caduta di cui è stato vittima ieri nel finale della Heylen Vastgoed Heistse Pijl. Ad aggiornare la situazione è stato il suo direttore sportivo Sep Vanmarcke. «Mikkel è stabile, ma ha riportato la...