"Going faster and winning, two sides of the same coin for a professional cyclist". This is how former Irish time trialist Michael Hutchinson writes in his book "Faster: The Obsession, Science and Luck Behind the World's Fastest Cyclists". But for many, surprisingly, the desire to go faster can be much more appealing than winning. Because when the legs are spinning, the results come on their own. Though it’s not always just a matter of legs; often it's simply about doing everything you're supposed to do, and doing it well. The hard part is exactly that: doing everything well, consistently.
Training is just one part of the incredible puzzle that is the life of a pro cyclist. There are many other pieces to fit together and make work: data analysis, nutrition, psychology (which includes the rider’s entire motivational and empathetic sphere), personal relationships with the team, and managing injuries or sudden setbacks that can quickly change plans (and moods) impacting the athlete's daily life. It’s easy to see how every professional cyclist must also compete against themselves. Every day. A challenge that can sometimes really test them, just as it did with Fausto Masnada, a Soudal Quick-Step professional, who is returning to racing after two physically and mentally tough years. A period that taught him a valuable life lesson: listening, both to others and to himself.
The natural desire to never give up
In June 2023, after months of dealing with inflammation near the saddle area that began in August 2022, and after several attempts to endure and resolve the issue, Fausto was forced to stop and undergo surgery to remove a mass that had grown so large he couldn’t complete a simple training session without pain. This pause, which kept him out of competition for four weeks, was just the latest hurdle in a difficult period that had started with mononucleosis that weakened him the previous year.
For another rider, it might have ended there. But not for Masnada, whose impressive determination and mental strength helped him bounce back, immediately declaring his intention to return to competition as soon as possible and regain his optimal form. For the Bergamasco, that form means nothing less than the level of his 2nd place finish in the 2021 Il Lombardia after an incredible breakaway with the new UCI road world champion, Tadej Pogačar.
You've returned to racing after a complicated period. First of all, how are you feeling?
After the surgery, I felt much better and was able to finish 2023 with good sensations in the end-of-season races, performing at a high level. But I was fully aware that I had sped up my recovery timeline to achieve a physical condition fit for competing at the highest levels. I had lost several months over the course of the season, so I decided not to stop during the winter period. In hindsight, this was probably one of the many reasons that led to my next physical issue in March, related to my immune system, which I've only just recovered from.
What exactly happened?
During the spring, given my poor performance that wasn't consistent with my usual numbers, I went to Belgium, with the help of the team, to undergo more in-depth tests to figure out what was causing this general physical discomfort that left me constantly fatigued and unable to handle even basic training loads. The test results showed that the only way to recover from this degenerative phase my body was in was another period of complete rest. It wasn't easy, but I'm happy because since I started training again in mid-July, gradually building up the load through training and racing, my body has withstood the work of the past two months. I was even selected to race in the Italian events. I hope this is a sign of a fresh start.
What was your mindset over the last two years?
I've always been focused on improving season after season, and that mindset never left me, especially during the past two years. As an athlete, a forced stop is always hard to accept. Initially, you go through a phase of frustration, but then you set short-term goals to try to come back as quickly as possible.
Over time, I realized that there are no magic pills. The only way forward is to rest and embrace the downtime with peace of mind. I stayed home and did other things, things I don’t have time for when I'm racing, trying to get rid of that feeling of "never being fully satisfied".
What did this experience teach you?
That I need to listen to my body more and not rush my return from bronchitis or surgery. I need to understand exactly how I’m feeling before getting back into my passion, which is also my job. When we start talking about "overtraining" and "mental fatigue", it's essential to have the clarity to stop and recover your energy.
When did you realize something wasn't right?
We professionals are always in touch with the team doctor, so when I noticed a 10-15% drop in my numbers, we thought it was a temporary issue, related to post-bronchitis or the removal of a dental problem, which could have also been a factor. Soon after resolving those two problems, I went to altitude training to prepare for the most important events of the first part of the season, even though I felt I hadn't fully recovered. I pushed through until mid-May, but day by day, I kept getting worse, to the point where I couldn't even handle a simple two-hour training ride.
How did the team react?
They noticed I wasn't well and that my numbers weren't up to standard. So, I went to Belgium for specific tests on my hormonal response to training stimuli. We found out I was in a phase of overtraining, caused not just by training loads but by several factors combined, which knocked me out.
What's your greatest strength?
I'm a professional who tries to do my job well every day. I recognize that I have the discipline to train and to push through difficult times. In every season I’ve raced, I've always finished what I started. And maybe it’s that same dedication that made me miss the signals my body was sending me.
The situation you just described is common even among advanced amateurs.
We professionals have different goals than amateurs, but in some ways, we think alike. The commitment and consistency we put into training is the same. And I have great respect for those who make sacrifices to find time for training. The important thing is to approach it with the right balance.
Germany, Canada, Luxembourg, Italy. Since August, you’ve been training and racing with some consistency. Aside from the fatigue, how have you felt during this brief but intense period?
Pretty good, actually. I started training again in mid-July and returned to competition at the end of August at the Deutschland Tour, followed by the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Montréal, and a few days later, I lined up for the Tour de Luxembourg. Then I returned to Italy for the final races of the season: the Piccolo Giro dell'Emilia, Coppa Bernocchi, and Tre Valli Varesine (which was canceled after 60 km due to bad weather). Let's just say that when you come back after a long stop where you haven't been physically well, it's really tough to immediately regain the condition needed to be competitive in a race. But now I'm feeling better and better. We're sticking to all the plans, and I’m able to complete and handle the training schedules and workload. Every race is a test that gives you concrete feedback on what you're doing and how you're doing it.
We're just hours away from Il Lombardia, which for a Bergamasco like you is your home race. How are you preparing for it?
Even though it's the big race at the end of the season, Il Lombardia remains one of my favorites. I always start super motivated, and those 250 km fly by in no time. Everything is in it: the adrenaline, the emotion of racing on roads where I've trained for years, passing by my house, and the huge motivation to make my fans and friends proud, the ones who are there for me. Getting a good result will be tough, but I have to and want to do well. The start from Bergamo is something very special for me because I’m one of the few active Bergamasco riders lining up for an important race like this. When I look back, I see a young Fausto among hundreds of kids who dreamed of making it. And today, I’m one of the few who reached the highest level.
Looking back on your memories, in 2021, you broke away with Pogačar all the way to the finish of the Giro di Lombardia. Considering Pogačar's phenomenal season, how much do you think he's raised the bar in cycling over these past three years?
For many people, Pogačar's performances seem impossible, but he was already a talent when he finished 3rd at the Vuelta, carrying a few extra kilos, and on a team that wasn't yet as well-equipped as it is now. Compared to three years ago, when we crested the Passo di Ganda at the Il Lombardia, he had grown tremendously. This year, Tadej is playing a different sport. He's improved his preparation and nutrition, and he's always been attentive to everything, an aspect that has also helped him improve his performance. But the team has also grown, in every aspect: from bikes, time trials, road races, and skinsuits. Now other teams are gradually catching up to what UAE started a few years ago.
More admiration or envy?
Neither, I'd say more awareness. Every now and then, a new champion like him emerges, disrupting everything we thought we knew. In our environment, many professionals are curious to understand how to bridge the evident gap. Others consider him an outlier. I'm part of those who want to understand which parameters to work on to improve, fully aware that I'll never reach his level of performance due to his innate talent. For me, it's important to look up to the best, to understand and learn from them.
From Pogačar to Evenepoel: what’s your relationship with Remco?
He's another talent I had the chance to work closely with for three years, but he's also a genuine guy with a strong sporting personality. Recently, we went out on the bike together for some reconnaissance, and despite some personality clashes, I enjoy spending time with him on the saddle. When he sets a goal, he rarely misses it, despite the many media pressures he has to handle, as well as the daily physical effort from training and the long periods away from home for camps and recon for the most important races of the season. Remco is a born champion who is sacrificing everything to make every dream come true.
Do you think cycling has grown in recent years? And if so, how?
Overall, there has been growth, especially in countries where cycling was previously unknown. Now we have Danish, Norwegian, and Eritrean riders, a multiculturalism that wasn't as present in the peloton between 2000 and 2015. Today, it’s a more global World Tour, with a larger number of countries represented, and as a result, a numerical and performance decline for us Italian riders. And new training methodologies and youth development systems have also emerged.
Speaking of young riders, how is their approach to this new cycling?
Currently, for example, junior riders already have coaches, training loads are different, and everything is geared towards this direction. It wasn't like this before. Overall, I see more attention being given to young riders and their development. An example is the youth program of Soudal Quick-Step or that of Team Jumbo-Visma, where young riders grow up with the same resources and training methods we use, obviously adapted for the races they will face. But in general, it's always about balance. Because if a 20-year-old performs well but has been training at intense levels for five years, maybe he'll have a good season, but then he may not be able to maintain that performance. In the future, for sure, a professional cyclist’s career will be much shorter than it used to be.
Your contract with the Soudal Quick-Step family is expiring. How do you see your future?
"Family" is the right word. I've really enjoyed these past years. An incredible and tight-knit staff, with a great desire to work and help the riders, especially when things aren't going well. Perfect people in every aspect. To them, I extend my sincere thanks. Patrick is the backbone of this group, as he has managed to create a cohesive team with a constant desire to improve. Then there are my teammates. I've worked with many, and it's not always easy to connect with everyone, but each one of them has left something with me. Being a professional cyclist is a great job, and you have to be good at enjoying it. The only thing I regret is that physical problems over the last two years didn't allow me to perform at my best, but I have to thank everyone for the immense support they showed me. Even if our paths part ways, I'll always have wonderful memories.
In less than a month, you'll turn 31, an age when a professional enters the second phase of their sports career. Do you have more dreams or goals?
Only goals, because thanks to cycling, I've already achieved the three dreams I had: becoming a professional, winning a stage in the Giro d'Italia, and racing in the Giro di Lombardia. Now I'm focused on returning to peak form, joining a new team, and building something new to write a different chapter in my life. If I succeed, great; otherwise, I'll start considering what to do in my post-career future. What will never change is the desire to keep growing and working to get back to the level I reached with my 2nd place in the Giro di Lombardia. And that's already a goal. Results will come by themselves.
