"Sometimes you have to race more with your head than with your heart" but Giulio Pellizzari doesn't rule out trying to follow a Tadej Pogacar attack on La Redoute

One of the debutant on the Liege-Bastogne-Liege startling this afternoon in the Ardennes is Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe's exciting Italian prospect, Giulio Pellizzari. Starting with an ambitious attitude, the 21-year-old is keen to make a mark on the Monument.

"The idea started to come to me after Catalunya. When I found out I wouldn't be doing the Tour of the Basque Country. Then some of my teammates were feeling unwell, so they called me last Monday and told me I would be racing here. I couldn't be happier!" Pellizzari explains of the rather last minute inclusion to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe's Liege lineup in conversation with Bici.Pro. "At the moment they called me I told Primoz Roglic and he said: 'Stay calm, stay safe.' He was happy because I was happy. And that made me happy."

Although this marks Pellizzari's first experience of the senior Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the Italian does have some knowledge from the junior editions. "I knew the roads a bit, having done the Ardennes Arrow with VF Group-Bardiani when I was under 23. I remembered a few climbs," he explains. "I expect it to be tough! Liège is a long race. I hope I don’t start with the best feelings…"

That's not a typo either, Pellizzari is really hoping he's not feeling his best at the startline. "Because the way I am, it is better to 'fly low'. If I am doing well, I end up getting too excited," he laughs. "While if I am forced to stay calmer, maybe I will be better in the final. Unfortunately, as I mentioned, the team has had a bit of bad luck in these classics, so let's try to give our best and we will see how it goes."

Obviously, the man to match for Pellizzari will be world champion Tadej Pogacar, someone the Italian has already enjoyed battles with at the Giro d'Italia in 2024. "We know that Tadej will attack on the Redoute, or at least it seems obvious, so I imagine that someone will move," he previews, not ruling out attempting to follow any attacks from the UAE leader. "We’ll see. The stimulus, the desire on my part is always there, but sometimes you have to race more with your head than with your heart."

And as for his own goals? "We start to try to make a top ten, maybe a top five. The top would be a podium… We know that winning is difficult, but we try," the Italian concludes.