After a disappointing 2015 season, Francesco Manuel Bongiorno wants to re-launch his career in the new year. The Bardiani - CSF has occasionally showed his talent but is in search of the consistency that has been lacking in the last season. Despite an optimal preparation, the 25-year-old has never found an opportunity to get a prominent result. This has had an impact on his morale and for 2016 he has great motivation and desire for revenge.

”I feel very good,” he tells Spaziociclismo. “We have started to train a bit to make things calm and will find the right path to try to make the most of a new season.”

In 2014, Bongiorno nearly won the big Giro stage to Monte Zoncolan but his results were less impressive in 2015.

“I'd give it a 3,” he says. “I am very hard on myself. Athletically, thanks to [Claudio] Cucinotta, we were able to grow, but what matters is how you do in the races. Many times, for one reason or another, we could not do what we expected. For the first time, I tried to manage the season differently, starting quieter to focus everything on the Giro d’Italia. However, I realized that it is better to base the season on consistency with results. You have to be ready early without having to serach for the form.”

Bongiorno had his best results in the first part of the year.

”It was in line with the previous year, but every year I try to take a step forward,” he said. “I am not saying that there should be no negative seasons. That’s part of the story of every athlete. You must be able to accept and address them and figure out where you were wrong. The second part was very tortuous. I was sad because I had always trained well, trying to stay focused until the end. In the end it was a disaster.”

One of his best moments came in Verbania at the Giro d’Italia when he was close to the win that was ultimately taken by Philippe Gilbert.

“When I lose, even by a centimeter, I'm banging my head for weeks,” he says. “I am aware that I gave everything and was beaten by one of the strongest riders in the world. I did everything to be able to get clear. The problem was that I had other breakaway companions and I had to handle the situation in a particular way. I failed to get assistance from the others but I still had to try to prevent Gilbert from getting back. I failed because after the long climb the course was much more suited to his characteristics and showed his skills as a champion.”

Bongiorno has now finished third and second in Giro d’Italia stages. If he continues his improvement, he can expect to win a stage in 2016.

“If I have to rely on these facts, I will win the Worlds at 40 years of age,” he says with a laugh. “Like last year the Giro was very special, on a difficult course which was very hard. I still have to thank the team and Cucinotta because we did a spectacular job during the preparation and we were prepared to perfection. And this year I learned that in the modern cycling, you must not only be prepared. It takes both luck and an ability to understand the race situations. I have missed that aspect so many times. Sometimes the young age leads me to make mistakes that compromise things.”
 

In 2016, the Giro will again be the main goal.

“First we need to be ready and hope to get the invitation,” he says. “This year I won’t start with GC ambitions. I think I will remain quiet, trying to make results in stages that suit me. I had a teacher, Franco Chioccioli who told me that the GC will come if you have the legs. I have learned that I can try for the GC if I end up there by trying to show myself and the team. The important thing is to be at 130%.”

Bongiorno already has his eyes on a particular stage.

The stage that finishes in Sestola passes near my house,” he says. “It is a stage in which I want to do well and it is also quite challenging. Then there are some stages in the last week where I can try, depending on the GC, wither with an escape from the distance or by trying to battle with the best.”

Bongiorno knows what will make 2016 a successful year.

“What interests me most is to find consistency,” he says. “I do not say that a rider has to win all the races, but what I really want is to be constant throughout the year, try to do as well as I can. There are several races where I want to do well. I want to be good in Eroica [Strade Bianche, ed.] because it is a special race and then we will see whether I do Tirreno and Coppi and Bartali. Then I will focus on the Giro del Trentino, Giro d’Italia and then the end of the season. The races in Italy will be the same as always.” 

In recent years, Bongiorno’s teammates Sonny Colbrelli and Edoardo Zardini have been selected for the national team. With a climbing course in Rio, Bongiorno would love to follow in their footsteps at the Olympics.

“The problem for me, and it is fortunate for the national team, is that there are so many riders like me who are very strong,” he says. “Surely the national team at the Olympics will revolve around Nibali and Aru. The Olympics is a dream for every blue rider. I'll try to do my best. If I can wear the blue jersey, it would be a great honor but I know that is a very difficult goal to achieve.”