"I won’t drop the head anymore" - Filippo Ganna looking to bounce back following difficult season

Although Filippo Ganna took several wins and beat the Hour Record in 2022, it has been a very mixed season for the Italian time-trialist. He's missed most of his main goals, but is looking to bounce back next year with new goals on the board.

“I don’t want to get [to San Juan] in top form, but I don’t want to suffer too much either,” the former time-trial World Champion said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. “In the days ahead with the team, we’ll make a plan of attack for the races when I get back to Europe. I’ll go to the European Track Championships in Grenchen (to take place between February 8-12, ed.). And in the Spring, it’s the Classics and the Giro d’Italia.”

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Argentina will see him debut in the INEOS Grenadiers colours in 2023, and Ganna will likely aim for several wins early in the year. However, he is looking to build towards the Giro d'Italia instead of the Tour de France where he's struggled this year. Despite being one of the world's best time-trialists, he's also capable of riding hilly terrain aswell as the cobbled classics, and he's looking to perform better outside of his speciality.

“I’ll do different training. In the finale of races, it’s been the case that I haven’t been as sharp as I was at the beginning," he admits. "I’ll need to work on intensity after a certain number of hours, to be ready in the key moments. I’ve spoken about it with my coach Cioni.”

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Ganna didn't manage to take wins at the World and European Championships alongside the Tour de France - alongside postponing his Hour Record attempt. He managed to get back on track (literally) later in the year which saw his confidence rise, and he has learnt a lesson in psychology this year which he is looking to use in the future.

“I won’t drop the head anymore. Maybe I listened to others too much and I would have done better to let it wash over me," Ganna concluded. 

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