It has been two hectic months. I was in Australia after Christmas, then flew to Qatar and then straight on to training camps. So in two months I was home for two days.
I miss my family, my friends and my private life when I am on the road.
There is a rumour that I am not a good rider in every sense. In what I eat, drink, my sleep – I am not the perfect athlete but I need to be like that because that is my personality.
I like that the girls are free to go their way but that they can come to me for advice.
If something bad happens I use my smile and happiness to try to go out and leave the bad behind me.
If you stay in a bad mood, you never go back. If you cry because something bad happens you take twice as long to get over it.
I always think I can change my role depending on what the best option is on the day. It’s silly for the team to work for me if I am not feeling my best.
This year I’ll focus on winning a stage in the Giro d’Italia, but it will be tough as there are a lot of climbs. I’ll also be focusing on the Women’s Tour and some World Cup races.
Being able to suffer and cope with that suffering is all in the mind.
Sometimes in a race I will think to myself “Giorgia, how are you going to sprint?” I am so tired, but then I see the 300m to go sign and something takes over and I know I can sprint. I don’t know why but something happens in my mind. All the power comes back and I am able to sprint.
Marianne Vos is my biggest rival on the road.
If you win because you are stronger than me that is fine, it is because you are the best. It is my pleasure. But when you do something bad, use bad tactic, I don’t like it. I can understand how they feel good after.
I don’t think about the race. I have the information the evening before. But on the morning, I don’t think about it. I have fun with my teammates and stay relaxed. And when I am feeling like that I will be focused to do my best.
Some girls get nervous so I make some jokes but if I know it’s not the time I respect their space.
I drink a beer most of the time after the race but I won’t tell the younger girls to do that. I tell them to take their recovery drink!
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