Elia Viviani: Sprinting problems are in my head, not my legs
The Italian says it has been a mental struggle more than physical as he leaves the Giro d'Italia
Elia Viviani (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) leaves the Giro d'Italia blaming his head more than his legs after missing his last sprint opportunity before a brutal week and a half in the mountains.
The Italian champion who won four stages in the Giro d'Italia last year, came up empty handed in 2019. On Wednesday when the riders sped into Novi Ligure, Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) passed the line first with Viviani in fourth.
"I am not at peace," Viviani said. "In the race it's clear that something is wrong.
>>> Five talking points from stage 11 of the Giro d’Italia 2019
"Three second places, a fourth place and a victory not victory, they can't satisfy me, the team and I were aiming for much more."
Viviani blamed his head more than his legs and longed for his sprint train with Michael Mørkøv.
"In these 10 days, I've heard of them all, it's not a question of condition, but more of a head," he added. "I don't do my sprint, but I jump here and there, following the others.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"In the train I miss Mørkøv, with my team-mates we try and we lost our way, in the end the sprints didn't go as we would've like. We don't usually approach sprints like this, and there is a lack of security. I have to pull away a bit to start again and to win again."
With the Tour de France on his schedule and a tough haul ahead with only one sprint stage, Viviani had to decide to leave early.
"You say he has the Tour de France a but he is on the long list and we need to decide what we are going to do," sports director Rik Van Slycke said.
"We will see and we will analyse. Next week there is another stage and maybe we'll go for that one. We will analyse tonight and see what he says and then make a conclusion."
Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal), winner of two stages in this Giro d'Italia, is also leaving the race. Many sprinters typically pull the plug with the Giro offering little for them in the second half or last week.
"At the moment, you have guys with better legs and a bit stronger than him," Van Slycke added.
"Nothing wrong just we have a few contenders to have the two per cent extra explosively and he is it missing now. Even with the little bit less legs you can still win, though."
Viviani rode the three weeks in the 2018 Giro and won the points competition.
"It is difficult to say if he isn't [in the same form as 2018]," explained Van Slycke. "Maybe yes, but last year there were two sprinters and this year there four or five. Maybe that is a difference."
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.
-
I'm not into cake stops - but - I made an exception to rate five British delicacies in one ride
Of all the cakes named after places in the north-west of England, which is the tastiest? Simon Warren sets out to sample them all in a single epic ride
By Simon Warren Published
-
The Rugby Flyer flies again: the story of the first sub-hour '25' time trial
How one record-breaking bike – and the memory of the man who rode it – live on
By James Shrubsall Published
-
Elia Viviani says helmet 'saved his life' in Paris-Roubaix crash
The Italian abandoned the race after 40km on Sunday, but left without any fractures
By Adam Becket Published
-
GB's Neah Evans claims stunning first world title on final day of Track World Championships
Great Britain finishes with 10 medals, after Madison silver and elimination race bronze
By Tom Davidson Last updated
-
Mark Cavendish wants to continue for 'at least' two more years
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl sprinter turns 37 this weekend
By Adam Becket Published
-
Elia Viviani outsprints the pack in wind-blown stage one of Tour de la Provence
The Ineos Grenadiers rider took his first victory since returning to the team
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Fabio Jakobsen on aiming for the Tour de France, lawsuit against Groenewegen and supporting Cavendish
The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider showed he is back to being one of the fastest sprinters around at the Vuelta a España
By Tim Bonville-Ginn Last updated
-
'My head was filled with doubts and insecurities but I'm ready to win sprints again': says Elia Viviani as he re-joins Ineos in 2022
The former Italian champion and Olympic gold medallist is confident he can get back to the top of sprinting
By Tim Bonville-Ginn Published
-
'I don’t want to end my time with the regret of not ever trying': Julian Alaphilippe wants to try and win Tour de France before retiring
The double world champion will focus on the Classics in 2022 but still has an eye on the French Grand Tour
By Tim Bonville-Ginn Published
-
Julian Alaphilippe and Remco Evenepoel share their thoughts ahead of Il Lombardia 2021
The two Deceuninck - Quick-Step riders come into the final Monument of the year as two of the main favourites
By Tim Bonville-Ginn Published