{"id":160848,"date":"2017-08-16T13:36:22","date_gmt":"2017-08-16T13:36:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=160848"},"modified":"2017-08-16T14:44:06","modified_gmt":"2017-08-16T14:44:06","slug":"cesare-benedetti-bora-hansgrohe-tour-de-pologne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2017\/08\/16\/cesare-benedetti-bora-hansgrohe-tour-de-pologne\/","title":{"rendered":"Cesare Benedetti from Bora-Hansgrohe on Tour de Pologne"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, we are bringing you an interview with Mr Cesare Benedetti of team Bora Hansgrohe, about the Tour de Pologne.<\/strong>
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In the past, the Tour de Pologne used quite long stages, distance-wise. This year, the organizers had a completely different approach, with shorter and rather aggressive roads. What are your thoughts on this? Do you think it was a wise choice? Should this be an alternative race format for some of the week-long stage races?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This year’s Tour de Pologne edition was only the second one for me. This year, we had one long flat stage of 238 km, one hard mountain stage of 190 km, and the rest of the stages, which were rather short, were quite dynamic, fast and we saw more attacks, even when it was almost obvious that there would be a sprint finish.<\/p>\n

I think this Tour de Pologne was designed really well, we had sprints, we had a couple of hard stages with not too long but very steep mountains and we had the stage with the finish in Rzesz\u00f3w, which was similar to a Belgian classic (from a big road to a small one, up and down, short and steep hills and a sprint of a reduced peloton). It was a good mix; you don’t need to have 200 km every day, but sometimes a long mountainous or hilly stage is needed to show the potential of the best riders.<\/p>\n

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Cesare during the Stage 6 of 74th Tour de Pologne on August 3, 2017 in Polana Glodowka, Poland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Strategically, how did these shorter stages change the race style for the teams? As you very well know, the main GC contenders were all very close time-wise, till the end. Do you think this made for a closer race overall?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Apart from the fact that here in Poland the stages were short, we also need to consider that each team had a squad of seven riders (compared to 8-rider squads in normal races and 9-rider squads in grand tours).<\/p>\n

This obliges the teams to be more careful at the beginning when the war for the breakaway is on. As you know, you can’t leave too many riders in the break, otherwise it will be hard to close the gap in a 130km stage for example (especially if it is a flat stage).<\/p>\n

So yes, for sure this changed the race style a bit as you can go “a block” for 130 km, but you can’t do it for 250. Considering the GC, I wouldn’t say that. The riders in the first positions were all on the same great level, and the final climbs were just not long enough to have bigger gaps, but having the GC open until the very last metre of the race is actually a good thing, suspense and surprises are part of this sport.<\/p>\n

In many of the stages, we saw you leading the team and riding right at the front of the peloton. Will this be a new role for you at Bora Hansgrohe in the future?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, I may say that my role has always been to work for the team. In the past, I was in the breakaway many times, but it was always on request of the team. Now I have the chance to work for very strong captains, and this motivates me even more.<\/p>\n

I think I ride stronger when I work for the teammates than when I ride for myself. Here in the Tour de Pologne, I was super motivated, working with Peter for the sprints and with Rafa\u0142 for the GC, it was one of the most satisfying weeks of my career. The fact that the race took place in Poland (and three stages in Silesia) just gave that extra push to ride faster, as this place is my second home.<\/p>\n

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Benedetti celebrates on the podium wearing the best climber’s green jersey after the sixth stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico, Italy, 14 March 2016.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We cannot help but mention that you seem to have a pretty large personal fan club here in Poland. How did this happen, and can you tell us a little bit about your fans?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Well, as you know by now, my wife is Polish, and I always spend my off-season and easy time in Gliwice. From here comes my connection to Poland.<\/p>\n

Also, during the last season, I used to take part in the live Facebook videos of my former teammate Bartosz Huzarski during the grand tours, and this was probably the main way people got to know me. In October 2016 I organised a short loop around Gliwice with local amateurs and simple cycling lovers and on that occasion I also made some new friends!<\/p>\n

So this year at the Tour de Pologne, I was lucky to have people to cheer for me on the road at every stage, which is super motivating, believe me! On Stage 2 in Katowice, there was a really big banner on a bridge in the final circuit downtown. Also, in the final hills in Rzeszow, the fan club went all the way and wrote my name on the tarmac many times. The same happened in the last two stages around Zakopane and Bukowina Tatrzanska, so I can say I was super happy to see such support.<\/p>\n

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A tough stage for my birthday but I had the chance to smile on the road, thanks friends! \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf1\u270c\ud83c\udffb@Tour_de_Pologne<\/a> @marcin_ra<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/piow4zksB2<\/a><\/p>\n

— cesare benedetti (@benedetticesare) August 3, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n