Cannondale Chairside Chats: Moreno Moser (part three)

Finally, today we talk about bike racing and Moreno’s heritage as a member of cycling royalty.

G4: What are your favourite races and why?

MM: I don’t know maybe Strade Bianche because I won it last year. Okay so it’s not one of the most important races but………..

G4: It’s already a big favourite with the fans and a real visual feast. How come you ride the gravel roads so well? Do you have roads like that to train on in Trento?

MM: There are no Strade Bianche where I live. In the winter I sometimes  use a mountain bike on dirt tracks but it’s not same.  As an under-23 I won a stage of the Baby Giro which was raced on Strade Bianche but that was in  Veneto, not Tuscany.

G4: Any other races?

MM: Mmm, maybe Milano-Sanremo. That’s an important race for an Italian to win.

G4: Only Italian races? You’ve enjoyed success and had good results in other countries: Germany, Poland, Canada, France.

MM: I really like riding at home and I’m really looking forward to riding the Giro this year providing I’m not too fatigued after the Classics. The team are giving me an opportunity this year.

G4: You’ve already raced in lots of different countries in your short career. Which have you enjoyed the most?

MM: I know even though I’m young I’ve had a great opportunity unlike some of my friends who’ve not ventured more than a few hundred kilometres from home. On the one hand I feel so lucky but on the other, when we’re racing, we don’t see much; just the view from the bus and hotel windows. California’s probably the only place where we’ve been able to have a look around during the last two years’ team presentations.

I’ve been to China, Australia, South Africa, South America, Canada…….. lots of places but you just get an impression rather than getting to know the country, its people and culture. Maybe it’s better to go there on business, but not cycling business, if you want to see and understand more about the country. When we’re racing we only get to meet our staff and those of the race organiser and hotels.

G4: We’re now going to fast forward to the future. You’re a grandfather, dangling your grand-children on your knee. What would you like to tell them about your career as a professional cyclist?

MM: Aaah, that’s difficult! Of course, I’d like to be able to tell them about some great victories. I remember when I was younger, my uncle Aldo would tell us about his successes. I loved listening to him because he could remember so many little details about the race. I was really impressed. He could remember all the roads which way they bent, the state of them. It was impressive and we could relive those successes with him. When I spoke to my uncle Francesco about races he would have little tales about each one. What happened to him in each race.

G4: It must have been inspiring as you were growing up and starting to race to hear all those tales from your family members. You’ll be able to do same for your kids and grand-kids.

MM: Those two both had amazing careers and experienced so much, much more than the average person. There are lots of opportunities for someone who’s a professional athlete and, like them, I hope to have lots of experiences not just victories.

Thanks for your time Moreno. At G4 we’re sure you’ll have plenty of fine memories to share with your grand-children.

Links: Part one, part two