Basso, a support role on the Giro: “My role has changed, but not my drive”

His voice is calm, and his words, measured, as is his enthusiasm to try out a new role, one that is less eye-catching than in the past, but still at the centre of attention and of the battle. Ivan Basso is getting ready for his ninth Giro d’Italia, and for the first time, after so many years, his goal is no longer to win, or to be high up in the overall classification.

This season, Basso, who turns 38 in November, has started competing in the Tinkoff-Saxo team, whose captain is none other than Alberto Contador, the extremely strong cyclist from Madrid, who has already won the Giro, the Tour and the Vuelta. So, the champion from Varese will be the reference cyclist for “El Pistolero” on the decisive stages, in the high mountains; Ivan’s experience and “drive” will form the prelude to the attacks by the Spaniard.

Ivan, this Giro will be a new adventure for you, in terms of your role and the team you’re cycling in. How are you preparing for the start in Sanremo?
“My approach to the start has been like all of the other years; my job is different from what it’s usually been, but my drive, my racing style and, therefore, the preparation, are not very different from the past. What has changed is the fact that I’ll have to help Contador, the strongest rider in the world in the stage races, who has won eight great races in his career (two annulled, ed.) and who won the Vuelta 2014, the last race of this kind that was held.”

As a captain, you had a number of important seconds-in-command, and now you’re in that role; have you taken inspiration from any of them in particular?
“I’ll have the job that Vincenzo Nibali had in the Liquigas team in 2010, when I won my second Giro; I’ll have to go into action only when Alberto needs it, and make a special contribution that only I can give him. I haven’t taken inspiration from anyone in particular, but I’ve had many good riders beside me. I have the experience to do the job.”

Yours is a team of teams; with you and Contador, there are also Kreuziger, Rogers, Tosatto and many others. What do you think of that?
“I hope, at the finish, we can confirm what your question implies. On paper, we have a great team, and I won’t deny that when we’re together, it’s a boost to see so many strong riders around you. But then, we have a Giro to do, to achieve the objectives we’ve set ourselves. In the end, it’ll be the road that decides.”

Are there any opponents that you particularly fear?
“Cycling has changed over the last few years. Of course, there are only a small number who could win the pink jersey, 4 or 5, but there’s a bigger group of riders who want to be in the top five, or in the top ten. Every captain has a team with a strategy, with a Plan B and a Plan C. So you can’t just look at the favourites, you have to keep an eye on the whole group, with alliances and balances that come and go. Strangely, a team like Tinkoff-Saxo might have a simple strategy: to pedal as fast as possible. We’ve equipped ourselves for that.”

Ivan Basso comes to the Giro without having raced very much in the spring. Was that by choice?
“In my opinion, I raced neither a little nor a lot: I calibrated the competition days on the basis of reaching the Giro well prepared, but also in anticipation of taking part in a second stage race later on, either the Tour or the Vuelta, we’ll see. But also then, not as the captain; for the final classification, the Tinkoff has other leaders, and I think it’s important I acknowledge my limits due to my age, and face reality.”

Physically, how are you, two days away from the beginning of the Giro?
“I’m very well, both physically and mentally.”

And Contador?
“He’s equally well, but I greatly respect the privacy of my companions, so I won’t say any more. I can only add that he’s prepared for the Giro with great care and, as he’s already won so many great races in his career, I think he knows perfectly well how to prepare for the start.”