Teams & Riders Fausto Masnada - 'King of the Mountains'

[Ilmaestro99]

Fausto got back from Colombia yesterday after a great training camp. 3 weeks at altitude and 2209km.

He is going again to Tour of Oman. One of the top races. First race of the season. Yes, we are going to see Fausto in action before the week is over. Cycling is back.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I was reasonably happy with Oman performance. I would like if it was less anonymous, but the courses prevented attacks.

The constant shortening of stages, the cold and wet weather, the explosive stages all went against Fausto, and he still took a 16th overall. His level is not always so good in the first race after a long break. So it's a good start.

In muscat classic he did a good attack but couldn't snap the elastic, and then had to work for the team.

This weekend Fausto will race the two French .pro classics, ardeche and drome. It's good opportunities for him, because quickstep team is not so strong, so he can be a main card, but again will probably will be really cold which he doesn't like.

There are some top riders in these races, Hirshci, woods, skejmose, madouas, gregore, bardet, kron, Van gils, Gall, APP. A good test for Fausto..

My main hope is for a proper uninterrupted season with a full race programme and opportunities. We didn't really get that since 2020, which was covid anyway.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Ok it was a pretty bad weekend at those french races. I know Fausto doesn't like at all the cold, but still not good performances. Not a great start of the season after altitude camp. But he doesn't do his best performances after a long break.

Tomorrow Fausto start on Tirreno Adriatico, his first participation since his 6th overall in 2020. But that addition was more warm, in September. Nevertheless I am excited to see him in these big races again.

The stages are long which suit Fausto. Stages 3,4 and 5 will be good for looking for opportunities, the courses suit him. There is no real GC leader in quickstep. If he had better form than he showed in February I would be really excited. A top 10 plus stage win would be possible. Hopefully we see him in the attack.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I'm a bit sad

 

[Froome]

I'm a bit sad

Is he sick?

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Is he sick?

Bronchitis apparently.

'it is useless to hide the bitterness and disappointment inside of me, withdrawing is a bit like failing especially after working constantly physically and mentally for long months planning every single day'

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[SafeBet]

He's always sick and staying healthy is an integral part of being a good pro cyclist. So yeah I've lost hope.

Italian riders nowadays are so frail, they rarely perform in bad weather, they fall sick very often and struggle to recover or regain a good shape.
I know heat training is the new cool but Italian riders should try a cold training protocol and see if it works better.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

He's always sick and staying healthy is an integral part of being a good pro cyclist. So yeah I've lost hope.

Italian riders nowadays are so frail, they rarely perform in bad weather, they fall sick very often and struggle to recover or regain a good shape.
I know heat training is the new cool but Italian riders should try a cold training protocol and see if it works better.

I agree completely and don't have much to add..

I saw Fausto saying, he only likes it when it's June or later and 25+ degrees, for me this seems a limiting mindset. He's probably not the only one like this, but it annoyed me a bit. Anyway some of the problems aren't his fault .

It's sad to look back, a guy who I saw as a big talent and a big character became somebody that I hope can just stay healthy for a bit and show himself at races. Now he has no contract for next year and is unable to do anything except fight to stay in the bunch.

In the next few months he has to deliver something.

Wtf was going on at quickstep in 2021?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I have insights into Fausto's training numbers. Every week he does the Bergamo Alta at full power. Last week he did it in 2:59 minutes, but his goal is to do it in about 1:47 before Lombardia comes around. The hype is real, he's gonna win big this year!"

*As long as the imposter Klaas Lodewyck isn't his DS

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I have insights into Fausto's training numbers. Every week he does the Bergamo Alta at full power. Last week he did it in 2:59 minutes, but his goal is to do it in about 1:47 before Lombardia comes around. The hype is real, he's gonna win big this year!"

*As long as the imposter Klaas Lodewyck isn't his DS

Bergamo alta at full power? Scientists all over Europe will be very confused this summer when seismic activity is detected in lombardy more than once

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Fausto removed from Catalunya start list. Quickstep announced their line up today, really good team without him.

Another incomplete spring ((

Hope to see Fausto maybe in Romandie and Giro.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

MY GOAT FAUSTO

 

[SHAD0W93]

MY GOAT FAUSTO

Here I am thinking he won or something until I realized he’s winning at life.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

FAUSTO IS GOING TO LIEGE. REPEAT! FAUSTO IS GOING TO LIEGE !!!!!

now all we need is a nice sunny weather on Sunday and we have a great battle between Pogacar and Masnada on a hard hilly classic again.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

FAUSTO IS GOING TO LIEGE. REPEAT! FAUSTO IS GOING TO LIEGE !!!!!

now all we need is a nice sunny weather on Sunday and we have a great battle between Pogacar and Masnada on a hard hilly classic again.

Sunny weather? Get ready for a demolition, there will be only one finisher in Liege. Fausto and co will end up like Skjelmose recently...

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Inexplicably shunned from the giro team in favour of some Belgian farmers , Fausto will participate tomorrow in Eschobern Frankfurht loop in Germany, a WT race but not one that will suit him.

It's a big few months ahead as the weather gets warmer and opportunities to show a good level for a contract negotiation get less. Fausto will have aimed to get a good condition to try for the giro, so hopefully in some races coming up he can get good results..

It's the 3rd time in a row he missed the giro after illness. It is really sad for me to see him miss out on his home grand tour again. Probably I can copy and paste this post for 2025 unless they move giro to October

 

[Froome]

Inexplicably shunned from the giro team in favour of some Belgian farmers , Fausto will participate tomorrow in Eschobern Frankfurht loop in Germany, a WT race but not one that will suit him.

It's a big few months ahead as the weather gets warmer and opportunities to show a good level for a contract negotiation get less. Fausto will have aimed to get a good condition to try for the giro, so hopefully in some races coming up he can get good results..

It's the 3rd time in a row he missed the giro after illness. It is really sad for me to see him miss out on his home grand tour again

Evenepol needs Fausto by his side at the Tour de France, just like almeida had Fausto by his side during the Giro 2020.

Probably Evenepol demanded the great Fausto by his side at the Tour, because with him, he will feel more safe and confident with the presence of literally "greatness" by his side.

Fausto Masnada has a certain "aura" that can expire Evenepoel doing great things at the Tour de France.

Michael Jordan had Scott Pippen by his side.

Jokic has Murray by his side.

Evenepoel will have Fausto by his side.

 

[Berniece]

Evenepol needs Fausto by his side at the Tour de France, just like almeida had Fausto by his side during the Giro 2020.

Probably Evenepol demanded the great Fausto by his side at the Tour, because with him, he will feel more safe and confident with the presence of literally "greatness" by his side.

Fausto Masnada has a certain "aura" that can expire Evenepoel doing great things at the Tour de France.

Michael Jordan had Scott Pippen by his side.

Jokic has Murray by his side.

Evenepoel will have Fausto by his side.

He might have a shot at the selection, we’ll know if he is part of the pre-roster if he goes to altitude.

Evenepoel, Landa, Van Wilder are certainties. I would assume Lampaert and Asgreen as well. So you have another 3 spots left for: Cattaneo (high chance), Vervaeke (high chance), Masnada, Serry, Hirt, Knox, Moscon and Pedersen.

After making this list, I don’t think Masnada will be part of the TDF team.

 

[Froome]

He might have a shot at the selection, we’ll know if he is part of the pre-roster if he goes to altitude.

Evenepoel, Landa, Van Wilder are certainties. I would assume Lampaert and Asgreen as well. So you have another 3 spots left for: Cattaneo (high chance), Vervaeke (high chance), Masnada, Serry, Hirt, Knox, Moscon and Pedersen.

After making this list, I don’t think Masnada will be part of the TDF team.

I was just having some fun with ilmaestro.

Now seriously, if Masnada be able to return to his best days, he could be a great help for Remco, but it has been some difficult years to Masnada, so yeah, i think it will be difficult for him to go to the Tour.

 

[Berflamand]

He might have a shot at the selection, we’ll know if he is part of the pre-roster if he goes to altitude.

Evenepoel, Landa, Van Wilder are certainties. I would assume Lampaert and Asgreen as well. So you have another 3 spots left for: Cattaneo (high chance), Vervaeke (high chance), Masnada, Serry, Hirt, Knox, Moscon and Pedersen.

After making this list, I don’t think Masnada will be part of the TDF team.

I think Cattaneo is/was a certainty but apparently he's struggling with long covid so he might miss out after all if he's not fit in time.

I'd also assume Vervaeke will be selected.

Out of Lampaert, Asgreen, Moscon and Pedersen they'll probably pick two of them. Lampaert and Asgreen are probably the safest bets indeed.

Then there's one spot left for a climber like Masnada/Hirt/Knox unless they go for an extra rouleur.

If Cattaneo can't make it, I'd probably pick an extra rouleur.

 

[SafeBet]

Masnada has never ridden the Tour before. After all the health issues he's been through I don't think it's sensible to make him debut this year.
Vuelta would make more sense if he gets back to a decent level later in the season.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Who else here is constantly refreshing the quickstep twitter in the hope that pieter serry picked up a light cold that rules him out of the giro and they have to draft in Fausto???

 

[topcat]

Who else here is constantly refreshing the quickstep twitter in the hope that pieter serry picked up a light cold that rules him out of the giro and they have to draft in Fausto???

Loads of people, they don't have the balls to admit it.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Who else here is constantly refreshing the quickstep twitter in the hope that pieter serry picked up a light cold that rules him out of the giro and they have to draft in Fausto???

I'm constantly refreshing the Tudor twitter account in the hope that Simon Pellaud gets a late call up.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Hello


I wonder looking at the state of this giro, why quickstep does not take Fausto. He would have an impact on the race for sure. Really depressing.

From tomorrow you can watch live in action Fausto Masnada racing again as he is doing the 4 jours de dunquerke race in northern France with quickstep team.

A race that suit him less I can't imagine. This team is embarrassing nowadays, at least they will have a great squad to support the remco 12th place at Le Tour