In the cycling of phenomena, Paolo Bettini would fit in perfectly. Olympic champion in 2004, two-time world champion, and then winner of Milan-Sanremo, two Liège-Bastogne-Liège, two Tours of Lombardy, and then the Zurich Championship, Hamburg Classic and San Sebastian Classic, and the World Cup ranking, the challenge that pitted the big names against each other multiple times during the season. Bettini, during the Christmas week, wanted to talk about cycling and also wanted to make a wish to all fans.

Now we are in the Pogacar era. What do you think?
"He's a phenomenon, no doubt, but he's beatable because he's human. He has a really wide margin compared to his rivals because, as I always say, he has no real rivals: occasionally he finds Remco and once a year he meets Vingegaard at the Tour. It's not a cycling of great names or many athletes who can truly challenge their opponents."

Next year, the Slovenian will aim for Milan-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix, the only Monument Classics he hasn't won, and then the Tour and the World Championship.
"Will they beat him? Tadej will also find his peace of mind, his serenity, and maybe he'll have less desire to be a Cannibal, or he'll retire and make space for others. Take Evenepoel: he's now truly studying with his entire staff how to reach Pogacar."

But do you think this is a feasible goal?
"For me, Remco remains the only athlete capable of competing against Pogacar. But instead of focusing on wind tunnels (he was in California working with Specialized technicians, ed.) and seeking perfection, he should work more on his head, which is very weak."

Pogacar has always dropped the Flemish rider on climbs. What could Evenepoel do?
"Remco needs to work on his head, because he can beat him in time trials. But on climbs, it's different. Look at the World Championship in Rwanda: when he realizes he can't keep up with Pogacar, he drops back and wastes a great opportunity, then recovers and finds his position, second. But the head sometimes makes more difference than the legs."

Let's finally talk about Giacomo Pellizzari, whom Red Bull-Bora took to California with Evenepoel: the German team is betting a lot on the Italian, who will return to the Giro d'Italia in 2026.
"I think they're doing well. Pellizzari still has some room for improvement. He's in a team where he has everything, all the attention, everything to focus on his job. I believe that, besides being very useful for the team, he will have the right, and I hope so, the space to grow further and show he can improve."

It's Christmas, what thought or wish do you want to dedicate to Italian cycling fans?
"First of all, I want to wish a peaceful Christmas to all fans. Then I would like to wish Italian cycling to rediscover the humility to look each other in the eyes and look within, and start finding the courage to change. Our cycling is dying, especially youth cycling. It would be nice if improving our cycling was as simple as giving a bike to the little ones for Christmas. Unfortunately, it's not like that, and to improve, there's really a lot to do."