Masciarelli refocus on points and week-long races
Astana | January 30, 2012
Francesco Masciarelli will help keep team Astana towards the top of the WorldTour and focus on week-long stage races this spring. The Italian from Pescara just returned from Australia, where he began his season early.
"The intention was to get a little earlier start than in the previous years, which well help me to have better form for the spring," Masciarelli explained. Astana is "actively looking for more points by racing more and aiming for placings even in smaller races."
Masciarelli placed second overall in the young riders' classification at the 2009 Giro d'Italia behind Kevin Seeldraeyers, who now races in Astana, as well. However, last year, the Astana brass decided the lightweight, 25-year-old climber is better off focusing on shorter stage races.
"Francesco's young, but can still improve. We realised that at the Giro; he needs to grow and change his mentality. It's the same with all young riders," team manager, Guido Bontempi said.
"He's a rider for stage races, but not longer than one week. The Giro d'Italia is too long for him, for example, and so he'll skip it this year. He can do well in Tirreno-Adriatico, Giro del Trentino, País Vasco..."
"I aim to be in good condition for the Volta a Catalunya and other spring races," Masciarelli continued. "I will have some chances for myself and aim to score important WorldTour points for the team."
Astana's heavy-hitters – Janez Brajkovic, Roman Kreuziger and Alexander Vinokourov – will bring in the points this season. Masciarelli has proven he can do so as well thanks to a win in the 2008 Giro del Lazio and on the famous Mont Faron in 2010. The Mont Faron climb makes annual appearance in the Méditerranéen Tour, where other Italians won, including Gianni Bugno, Michele Bartoli and Ivan Basso.
Masciarelli has another link to cycling's history, he's the third son of Pietro Masciarelli. Pietro helped Francesco Moser and now manages team Acqua & Sapone. Francesco raced his first there years with his dad's team, where his older brothers Simone and Andrea still race.
"Racing on your dad's team is very different from racing in a team where you are fighting for your place," Bontempi explained. "He was always sure of his place in races there, but with Astana it's different because we have a lot of talented riders."
Vinokourov and Giuseppe Martinelli are sure of Masciarelli's chances. Ahead of this season, they prolonged his contract through the end of 2013 – plenty of time for Masciarelli to develop.