Ignatas Konovalovas: Ciao Jacopo. How are you today?
Jacopo Guarnieri: I’m really tired. We’re at the end of our training camp and I’m really tired.
Ignatas: Good. You’re not alone. And I’m not alone. So, first question. Why did you choose cycling?
Jacopo: It was a matter of coincidence. We had to do sport, me and my older brother. My father knew the owner of a team. It was too late for soccer because we were late into winter, so he decided to send us to do some cycling. I was 6, now I’m 31 and that makes quite a few years in cycling.
Ignatas: That’s something new. I didn’t know that. Your favourite race? Or what race would you give anything to win?
Jacopo: Paris Roubaix has always been my favourite since I first raced on the cobbles when I was a junior. It’s the best race in the world because it’s the only race like this. I would do anything to win. Maybe just a little bit of good luck will be welcomed for this race.
Ignatas: And this year is going to be special for you because on the racing program you have the Giro d’Italia and it’s going to be your first Giro since 25 years.
Jacopo: It’s already the 11th year I am a professional and it’s going to be the first Giro. I am really excited, and it starts in my own region so even more special. It will pass through the village that I lived for a lot of years. I’m really excited and looking forward to it. It’s going to be new because it starts one month after the classics so I’ve never prepared for something like this and I will enjoy and we will of course win some stages.
Ignatas: Hopefully. Who is your favourite teammate?
Jacopo: I am forced to say Konovalovas because he is here in front of me. If I say someone else he will probably cut my throat through the night.
Ignatas: I knew the answer. Longest ride you’ve ever done on the home trainer? In general, do you train on the home trainer?
Jacopo: No, personally I hate it. Every foreigner thinks Italians never ride on the rollers because we have beautiful weather but it’s not true. Sometimes I have to. I think the longest was 2 hours 40 minutes which is impressive if I think about it now. I was probably younger. It really is a lot, 2h40. Crazy! When I was under 23 I was training a lot because our national coach was a big fan of the home trainer but since we’re getting a warmer planet, I think I will use it less and less.
Ignatas: If you had to choose a holiday between U.S. and Asia, which would you choose?
Jacopo: I would rather go to the U.S. because I’m not a huge fan of the weather. I know it sounds stupid but in Asia the weather for me is not great. So, USA, I would love to go back to California and I’ve never been to New York so I have a lot to see.
Ignatas: Ok. Then, if you have a main dish but then you can only choose a starter or dessert.
Jacopo: I can choose both?
Ignatas: No, you can only choose one.
Jacopo: Then probably, I will go for the starter. I will go for some ham and cheese, and a beer and wine. Something like this.
Ignatas: Your favourite dessert?
Jacopo: A simple crostata. Homemade. Use a lot of butter and eggs. And that’s it. If you use good ingredients, the result is going to be great. I keep it simple. Crostata.
Ignatas: Pizza or Pasta?
Jacopo: Both but I think I have to choose one?
Ignatas: You have to choose one.
Jacopo: Then pasta.
Ignatas: I like pasta also.
Jacopo: I know haha.
Ignatas: Is it your favourite Italian dish?
Jacopo: Probably yes. We have so many different types of sausages or whatever we like to put on the pasta so it’s probably my favourite one. It can represent all the regions we have in Italy which are really different but still represents the basis, pasta.
Ignatas: Wine or beer?
Jacopo: Again, both but you say I can’t so I will choose wine because you can spread wine all over the year. I can have red wine during the winter and a sparkling cold wine during the summer. Beer I enjoy more when it’s hot so in winter I don’t drink much. So I choose for 365 days of pleasure.
Ignatas: French or Italian wine?
Jacopo: Italian. You know.
Ignatas: Racing at plus 10 degrees and rain or plus 40 and sun.
Jacopo: Plus 10 and rain.
Ignatas: No
Jacopo: Yeah yeah. I really hate the heat. I know some of you will maybe come to me in the first stage of Paris Nice when it’s raining and really cold but now I go for rain and cold. I perform better when it’s raining and cold.
Ignatas: One more question. Chicken or egg? What was the first?
Jacopo: I think an egg, probably. Out of somebody else.
Ignatas: Thanks for the answers.
Jacopo: You’re welcome.
Ignatas: Ciao
Jacopo: Ciao ciao.
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Tags: cycling blog, giro d'italia, paris roubaix Last modified: Jan 20, 2020
