Giulio Pellizzari is the Italian hope at Strade Bianche and was among the most applauded at the Fortezza Medicea in Siena. The 22-year-old from the Marche region riding for Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe opens the season in Italy after finishing third at the Valenciana behind Evenepoel and Almeida, and he does so with ambitions. Smiling and amused, as always.

Giulio, how do you imagine your Strade Bianche?
"I want to stay as far forward as possible. It will definitely be tough, and I'll have to race aggressively. This is my first time here and I'll try to enjoy it to the fullest, we'll see what happens. I chose to be at the start because it's a fascinating race, it's one of the most beautiful of the year, I've watched it many times on TV and I think it suits my characteristics quite well. I want to have fun".

What impressions did you get from the reconnaissance?
"I found beautiful gravel, we tested the equipment and I'm really happy with it, so we'll see how it goes in the race in the middle of the group and in the middle of all that dust. In the last 100 km every sector will be decisive".

And your relationship with gravel roads?
"I've never done mountain biking, but I really like gravel roads, last year during the Siena stage of the Giro d'Italia I had fun. Gravel has always fascinated me, it will be hard gravel, uphill, so come on, let's hope everything goes well without taking risks and trying to give my best. There's not much to invent here. Let's try to stay there with the best and see when the race explodes, we'll see where my legs take me. I'd like to be among the first on the Santa Caterina climb, that would be something magnificent".

And right here, at the 2019 Strade Bianche, you had your encounter with Pogacar.
"My famous encounter with Pogacar, when I took a photo with him. So you understand why Siena is really something special for me".

Everyone talks about this dominance of Pogacar: from inside the peloton, how do you see it?
"When you start a race, Tadej is the main favorite, the number one favorite. I'm quite young, it's certainly stimulating to race with him, but let's hope his performances drop soon and that he stops racing as soon as possible".