Your favorite race?

My favourite race is the Paris Roubaix, because it is the one that gave me the most emotions. This race also, is the one that suits me best. I hope to do it again very soon to give the best of myself.

What are your personal ambitions for the season?

My ambitions for this season are to grow in terms of experience, both in terms of sprints, time trials and classics, and I would like to find some great satisfaction in all these three.

Why cobble stone classics are so attractive to you?

Paris-Roubaix is ​​a race that has always impressed me. I’ve always watched it on TV, and when I managed to race it for my first time, with the fantastic final victory of Sonny Colbrelli, I think I did fall in love.

How did your father influence your cycling as a cyclist himself?

Since I was little, I have always seen the bicycle during my days my dad rode, and I saw him as an example. I immediately liked this sport, and in fact I started as a child, when I was 5 years old. My family have always supported me and if I’m here now it’s because of them.

Where do you get the nickname ‘Giant of Buja’?

Honestly… I do not know, I was given this name I think after the World Championships on the track by the newspapers. I admit though that I like it a lot, I find it nice.

What are the skills you can take from a track cyclist onto the road?

I think the track is very useful to improve my characteristics. Training on the track I can do specific jobs that help to increase the power, and therefore be useful also in several situations in road racing.

If you could pick one race to win in your career, which would it be?

There are many races that I would like to win, for example ‘Strade bianche’, ‘Milan – Sanremo’, but in particular the Paris Roubaix is my goal to win it.