It’s 8am on a Wednesday at the end of February near Siena. With pouring rain outside the hotel, BORA - hansgrohe Sports Director Enrico Gasparotto decides to have another espresso and postpones the departure for training by an hour, the rain should subside by then.
Lennard Kämna, Daniel Felipe Martínez, mechanic Mario Lexmüller and Enrico Gasparotto travelled to Tuscany a few days ahead of Strade Bianche. The reason being that the infamous the white gravel roads of Tuscany feature in the Giro d'Italia this year. The 6th stage from Torre del Lago Puccini to Rapolano Terme offers a spectacle for fans with three sections on notorious gravel roads. For the pros and their teams, the 11km of Strade Bianche in the Giro d'Italia represent a challenge - to be perfectly prepared on May 9, the four will be on the road in Tuscany between Opening Weekend and Strade Bianche.
As promised by the weather forecast, the rain lets up and the first rays of sunshine light up the green hills. The two pros set off, with Gasparotto and Lexmüller following behind in the team car.
A few weeks later, on April 3, Lennard Kämna collided with a car during an altitude training camp in Tenerife and was seriously injured. He is now on the road to recovery but unfortunately a participation in the 2024 Giro d'Italia is out of the question for the rider from Fischerhuder.
Dani Martínez:
“It will be a nervous and stressful stage, so a recon is very important and informative for us. We have to memorise not only the sectors and their characteristics, but also the kilometres before the gravel passages. The stage will certainly be very tough. In addition to good legs, you also need a bit of luck. A mechanical at the wrong moment can throw you out of the race for the general classification. You won't win the Giro on this stage, but you can definitely lose it - so I'm glad to have seen some of the sections. We will also make some adjustments to the bike set-up on this day. We have now tested material and gained experience.”
Mario Lexmüller, mechanic:
“At the recon, the riders can test different set-ups and then give us mechanics direct feedback on material and tire pressure. We won't need double handlebar tape or special saddles like we use for Paris-Roubaix here. Compared to our normal set-up, the biggest difference from a technical point of view will be the tire pressure. The balance between comfort, grip on the gravel and the best possible rolling characteristics on the asphalt is crucial. In general, tire pressure is in the range of 5-7 bar. Depending on the weight of the rider, the weather and the nature of the gravel, we then adjust the air pressure in the tires individually. In terms of width, we have found that the 28 mm versions of our Specialized tires have proven themselves on the gravel in Tuscany."
Enrico Gasparotto:
“We want to avoid surprises and go to the race perfectly prepared. After the route presentation of a Grand Tour, I firstly take a look at the entire course to get an overview. As I now know many of the roads in Italy very well, I then try to find out in detail where new sections have been added. We analyse these and then decide whether to carry out a recon, i.e. a route inspection, together with the riders. Particularly those stages that don't look extremely difficult on paper can cause chaos and unpredictable racing action.”
“It was important for us to see how much influence the gravel sectors can have on the entire stage and especially on the finale.”
“The gravel sectors are followed by decisive, short climbs in the finale. Gravel often causes chaos. We definitely want to avoid chaos ahead of the finale. The sectors are relatively short, but it will still be a pretty tough stage where a lot can happen. The key here is to stay focused and be prepared for all scenarios. However, the stage is certainly not decisive for the overall standings.”
“We've done the Recon. For me as a Sports Director, the task now is to observe the course of the race, compare it with our goals and then work out a strategy for the day in Tuscany.”
The finish line will be opposite the gelateria in Rapolano Terme on May 9. For Lennard Kämna and Dani Martínez, it's a few kilometres further to a hotel on this day in February. Then a hot shower, lunch and relaxation. In the hotel lobby, Enrico Gasparotto writes notes and marks critical points along the route on the Veloviewer digital stage map. Outside, Mario Lexmüller inspects the bikes, which are muddy from the wet Tuscan gravel, and once again checks the tire pressure.
A tick can be placed alongside “Giro Gravel Recon,” a small yet important part of the big Giro preparation puzzle.
© Anderl Hartmann