Gianni Moscon looking beyond Classics to Giro d'Italia after difficult season start
The Italian says he trying to re-find his condition in the cobbled Classics after setbacks earlier this year
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7KHAUD9Xsbc2DhqtCRjsN6-415-80.jpg)
Gianni Moscon at the 2019 Ghent-Wevelgem (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
Team Sky's Gianni Moscon says there isn't "only the Classics" in what is a "long season," having had a difficult start to 2019.
Moscon pulled out of the Tirreno-Adriatico and skipped Milan-San Remo last weekend having suffered and been off his best after two crashes in the UAE Tour in February.
He returned for the E3 BinckBank Classic on Friday and Ghent-Wevelgem on Sunday. Already next week he will need to be at top fitness if he wants to have a chance in the Tour of Flanders and a week later, Paris-Roubaix.
"Is there time to recover? Who knows," Moscon told Cycling Weekly.
"I will try for sure to do everything perfectly to try to be as good as possible for Flanders and Roubaix but the time is short and we can't say what's' possible but the season is long, we don't only have the Classics. Sooner or later, I'll be good, I think."
The Italian, who lives in Innsbruck, went back home and recovered. The season for him also includes leading the team, which will be known as Team Ineos as of May 1, in the Giro d'Italia.
"I also have the Giro in mind," he added. "I'll try to build up my condition and look towards the Giro. I'm not panicking if I'm not good in the Classics because the season is long, I hope that I'll be good for the Giro, for sure."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The new Ineos team will race with Colombian Egan Bernal as their leader for the overall one year after Chris Froome won the Giro d'Italia. Moscon, for the first time in his home tour, will provide a second option.
"It's nice to be back racing, I'm testing myself day by day and trying to improve my condition and looking forward to the next races. It's day by day and no stress to see what I can do," Moscon said.
"I hurt myself a little everywhere. I crashed twice in the UAE Tour, but the second one was the worst. Now everything seems OK but we'll see how it goes.
"I didn't feel great after the UAE, I didn't recover properly. Staying in Tirreno-Adriatico was probably too much I'd stress my body too much and I needed to recover my body properly before racing again. I went home and now I feel better."
Moscon quit on stage two of the Tirreno-Adriatico, while Geraint Thomas, feeling sick, also abandoned on stage four. He had to reset, missing a chance in Milan-San Remo so the he could slot into Sky's cobbled team. The team includes Luke Rowe, Owain Doull, Ian Stannard and Dylan Van Baarle.
"It was a difficult day on Friday for us [in E3] and for everyone, the pace was super high and when you miss that five per cent you can't be at the front anymore. We have other days ahead of us. We have a good team, even if we are not the favourites for the race," Moscon explained.
"Is there anyway to beat Deceuninck-Quick Step? Who knows. They show that they are strong everywhere. They are the team to beat, everyone knows they are strong, but never say never."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
A Stars and Stripes jersey and cold hard cash: the 2024 Gravel National Championships to offer a $40,000 prize purse for elite races
The US Gravel National Championships will return to Gering, Nebraska, on September 8
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Tadej Pogačar broke 288 Strava KOMs during Tour de France victory
Slovenian won his third Tour title in Nice last weekend, and picked up a host of new trophies on Strava
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
It's time to stop expecting so much of Ineos Grenadiers at the Tour de France
The British team are always under pressure to match their past best, but it’s not going to happen anytime soon
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tom Pidcock says Ineos Grenadiers will be 'better' at the Tour de France without Steve Cummings
Netflix series depicted tension between the DS and rider, dynamic sources told Cycling Weekly carries a degree of accuracy
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'dreaming' of taking yellow jersey on opening weekend of Tour de France
British rider hopes to play starring role in Italian Grand Départ
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I think I'll get the opportunity to go for a stage' - Geraint Thomas relishing support role at Tour de France
Former yellow jersey winner says this year's race "could be my last"
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Carlos Rodríguez to lead Ineos Grenadiers at Tour de France, supported by Geraint Thomas and Tom Pidcock
British squad will aim to "race aggressively and disrupt" at the French Grand Tour
By Adam Becket Published
-
21 things you didn't know about Tom Pidcock
According to the man himself, he's never had a hangover. It's alright for some.
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock adds extra mountain bike race to schedule, one week before Tour de France
Pidcock confirms he will race World Cup event in Crans Montana, Switzerland ahead of Olympic title defence
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
5 things we learned from the first week of the 2024 Giro d’Italia
The Italian Grand Tour is firmly underway and Tadej Pogačar is in the pink jersey. Here are our takeaways from the first week of action
By Tom Thewlis Published