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

STRADE BIANCHE E STRADE BIANCHE WOMEN ELITE, ECCO L'ELENCO DEGLI ISCRITTI

Si avvicina il grande giorno di Strade Bianche Crédit Agricole e Strade Bianche Women Elite Crédit Agricole che, come ormai da tradizione, apriranno la stagione italiana di grandi eventi targati RCS Sport sabato 7 marzo. Sono stati annunciati gli iscritti...

SCARPE

SIDI PORTA LA NUOVA COLLEZIONE A STRADE BIANCHE 2026

SIDI annuncia la propria presenza a Strade Bianche 2026, uno degli appuntamenti più iconici del calendario internazionale, simbolo di passione, performance e cultura ciclistica. In occasione dell’evento, SIDI sarà presente con uno spazio espositivo a disposizione di atleti, appassionati e...

PROFESSIONISTI

BARDIANI-CSF 7 SABER PRONTA PER LE STRADE BIANCHE: C'E' STENICO "SUPER BABY"

La Bardiani-CSF 7 Saber sarà al via della Strade Bianche, uno degli appuntamenti più importanti del calendario WorldTour, in programma sabato 7 marzo con partenza e arrivo a Siena. Anche quest’anno la corsa si deciderà sui celebri settori sterrati della...

COMPONENTISTICA

SVITOL E TEAM POLTI VISITMALTA RINNOVANO LA PARTNERSHIP PER LA STAGIONE 2026

Svitol, brand del portafoglio Arexons specializzato in soluzioni per la lubrificazione e la manutenzione, e il Team Polti VisitMalta annunciano il rinnovo della loro collaborazione tecnica per la stagione 2026, confermando un rapporto consolidato basato su confronto costante, test sul campo e cura del mezzo. La...

PROFESSIONISTI

SEIXAS, LA VOGLIA DI STRADE BIANCHE E QUEL TOUR CHE ALEGGIA

Appuntamento sabato sullo sterrato della Strade Bianche: Paul Seixas ci crede, e non ha paura a dirlo. «Questa è una delle mie corse preferite, la guardo in tv da quando avevo 12 o 13 anni. Ho disputato due volte l'Eroica nel...

INTERVISTA

TAGLIANI. «ALLA CHINA CHERMIN SONO FELICE. IL CICLISMO CINESE STA CRESCENDO, SONO QUI PER FAR BENE E AIUTARE I GIOVANI»

Nelle categorie giovanili correva con il sorriso sulle labbra e la spensieratezza di chi ama pedalare in sella ad una bici. Sulle labbra di Filippo Tagliani c’è ancora quel sorriso e l’atleta di Gavardo ama ancora pedalare: ascoltandolo parlare lo...

APPROFONDIMENTI

GIANNI MURA E QUELLA BIBLIOTECA CHE AIUTA A SPICCARE IL VOLO

Nasce in un’Isola felice la Biblioteca dello Sport dedicata a Gianni Mura. Nasce in uno dei quartieri più popolari e popolati di Milano, in quel quartiere denominato Isola e più precisamente in via Federico Confalonieri, 3, dove poche mattine fa...

STORIA

LE STORIE DEL FIGIO. VITTORIO STRUMOLO, ORGANIZZATORE "MULTITASKING" CON IL CICLISMO NEL CUORE

Vittorio Strumolo rappresenta un riferimento di primario valore nella piccola storia – comunque storia – quale organizzatore di molteplici eventi sportivi di grande presa sul pubblico negli anni del secondo dopoguerra fino a metà circa degli anni 1970. Il dottor...

TELETUTTO. IL TEAM GUERRINI SENAGHESE E LA SCUOLA CICLISMO MINCIO CHIESE SVELANO PROGRAMMI E AMBIZIONI

Torna questa sera alle 20.30 sulle frequenze di Teletutto l'appuntamento con Ciclismo Oggi, lo storico appuntamento dedicato al ciclismo giovanile. Una puntata interamente dedicata alla scoperta di due realtà giovanili dalla storia completamente diversa. Ad aprire la puntata sarà il Team Guerrini Senaghese...

STORIA

L'ORA DEL PASTO. SALUZZO E L'«OFFICINA CICLISTICA PARTIGIANA» CHE PEDALAVA PER LA LIBERTA'

Officina ciclistica partigiana. La scritta, tutta in maiuscolo, sotto un balcone, sopra un negozio-bottega, in corso Piemonte 29, a Saluzzo. In piedi, i due ciclisti, i due fratelli Frusso: a sinistra Lorenzo, del 1919, la mano destra appoggiata a una...