"I want to make that leap in quality that I still lack": Italian talent eyes career step up at the Giro d'Italia

As most riders, Lorenzo Germani has been getting ready for the new season in Spain, alongside his Groupama - FDJ teammates. During a media meeting, the Italian rider discussed his upcoming race schedule, the specifics of his winter preparation, and his objectives for the year.

With the new season approaching, teams have gathered in the Alicante region to fine-tune their form. Germani, who arrived early to escape poor weather in Italy, outlined a calendar that is not too different compared to the one last year.

When asked about his schedule for the upcoming season, Germani confirmed that it will look very similar to his 2025 campaign, culminating once again with the Corsa Rosa.

"It will be almost a copy of last year, it changes a little," Germani detailed told bici.pro. "I will pin on a number at La Marseillaise and then at Etoile de Bessèges. At that point, I will do the races in Italy: Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-San Remo and, following that, Romandie and the Giro d’Italia. For the second part of the year, we will see."

Regarding the decision-making process behind this schedule, it was actually Germani the one asking to stick to a familiar path. "Actually, I felt good in 2025. I liked the program, so I asked to redo the races I had already done," he said. "Especially the Italian calendar: these are races that are close to my heart and that I wanted to do again."

Riding for a major French team often brings pressure to participate in the Tour de France. However, Germani believes that patience is the best strategy for his development, preferring not to rush his debut at the Grande Boucle.

"For the moment it is a bit early. I prefer to grow more and get there knowing I am 100 percent. I know it is an extremely demanding race. If you are not a phenomenon, you suffer through it, and even if you are, you have to be well. I prefer to go there when I am sure of my means."

Still, he knows the Tour de France is the most important race for everyone, and even more for a French team such as Groupama - FDJ. "Yes, undoubtedly. It is the most important race for them, for the sponsors, rightly so, because they are French," Germani said. "It is also the race where perhaps an important result has been missing for a few years. Every year the desire to go and do well grows, and also a bit the pressure of having to do well."

On the technical side, Germani has reunited with a compatriot on the coaching staff, Luca Festa. Together, they have identified endurance as a key area for improvement.

"Yes. I found a compatriot as a coach, Luca Festa, and it is nice to have a compatriot in the team. "We talked about it and this was one of the first topics. Improving endurance to arrive fresher in the moment that counts is one of the keys of our work."

To achieve this, his winter training has involved specific adjustments to volume and strength training. "A little yes [we are working differently]. We favored volume: lots of Z2 but also Z1. The part in the gym has increased, I did more dry hours," he explained. "One of the objectives of the year is to maintain the gym work. In the early stages of preparation, I went twice a week. We also have a specific trainer for the gym. We are all in contact and I like that the two coaches have the same line of thought."

When asked about the timing of these gym sessions, Germani added: "It is indifferent. I do it also in the afternoon, it depends on the work of the day. The trainer tells me when to do it before the bike, if a particular stimulus is needed, or in the afternoon."

Germani also provided insight into what a professional "Zone 1" (recovery/low intensity) ride means, clarifying that it requires specific terrain to be effective.

"Routes with little elevation gain are needed, not so much for the climb itself, but for the need to pedal always. It must be a continuous and regular application, without interruptions on the descent. Therefore reduced elevation gains and, in fact, we return with 32-34 kilometers per hour average in Z2, and a little less in Z1. With rides under a thousand meters of elevation gain, usually 700, those averages come easily."

The concentration of professional teams in Calpe during December and January creates a unique and sometimes crowded environment.

"As you said, there is the world. Our world," he observed. "For us, perhaps the most complicated camp from the point of view of training is the one in December, because it is full of commitments beyond training: meetings, clothing, tests, sponsors, coaches, nutritionist. Already in January, the work becomes more specific."

More and more cyclists gather in that area to train in winter, which sometimes leads to chaotic situations. The Coll de Rates is arguably the most popular spot, and CyclingUpToDate visited it back in December.

"This year we witnessed traffic scenes on the Coll de Rates. There were so many cyclists that a single car was enough to create a real traffic jam where we had to put a foot down. From a certain point of view it is annoying. Just us, we are already thirty. It is beautiful to be many, but it is inevitably chaotic. You go out and find a group on one side and one on the other. A group of cycle tourists who sometimes tag along."

"But my thought goes above all to the locals, to the motorists. Even if on the Valencian Coast there is great respect towards cyclists, I think that sometimes they are a bit exasperated."

When asked if the amateur cyclists ask questions when they join the group, he replied: "Some yes. And then we also have a hospitality group, so they also ask us questions, they are curious."

Finally, Germani outlined his main goal for the upcoming season: to take a definitive step up in his career. "This year I would like to make that leap in quality that I still lack and play for some races, to be in the mix with greater consistency," he concluded. "In short, to really be in the fight."