"Every little effort I do made me more tired" - Gianni Moscon opens up on difficult season

Gianni Moscon has experienced a very tough 2022 season, and has talked about what led to the lack of performances throughout what was his first year with the Astana Qazaqstan Team.

“I couldn't train, I just got tired, every little effort I do made me more tired, instead of making me improve," Moscon said in an interview with Cyclingnews. The Italian, being an all-rounder, fits the team's aspirations in the breakaways, but also provided with the possibility of fighting for the hilly and cobbled classics. Moscon came into Astana as a leader, but suffered all throughout.

He could not finish any of the cobbled classics early in the main spring block, and abandoned the Tour de France inside the first eek as he struggled with lack of form. It was a short season for the 28-year old, who returned to competition in September after a lengthy break off the bike, where he looked to recover from his general fatigue.

“I'm looking forward to the next season because all this season I wasn't myself. And now finally everything is normal again," he said. Moscon returned to competition late in the year, and showed some form in October, finished 12th at the Coppa Bernocchi, 16th at Gran Piemonte, and travelling to the Tour de Langkawi where he finished his season, having two Top10 results, the only ones of his season.

"The feeling is the most important thing in our sport, because you base your training on the feelings and your program, everything. And to feel good again good, that the body responds well to the training and to the workload. It's really nice," he said. It was a year to forget for Moscon, but in 2023 he will attempt to regain his best form and help Astana - who were the lowest scoring World Tour team of the year.