The third place at the Giro dell’Emilia was unexpected even for Piganzoli. However, within his team, someone was ready to bet on a top-10 finish. That person is Giuseppe De Maria, a former professional cyclist with three years of experience and, since 2022, coach of the Valtellina native. Ivan Basso did everything possible to retain him for 2025, when his contract with Team Polti-Kometa expires. It’s fair to imagine that next season will see him take another step forward, as he did before, during, and after the Giro d’Italia this year.
“I thought he could finish in the top ten,” confirms De Maria, a native of Varese born in 1984, “but not on the podium. ‘Piga’ isn’t an explosive rider suited for those kinds of finishes. But we have to consider that San Luca came at the end of an extremely tough and long race. So it wasn’t so much about an explosive move but rather maintaining an excellent performance on the final climb. Plus, there was a longer climb before that, the day was cold and rainy, so endurance riders were at an advantage.”
From here, we start: the sense is that Piganzoli climbed several rungs in 2024.
“Yes, that’s true; it’s a fact that he keeps improving. I coach him and analyze his data daily. Every time we complete a block of work, a training cycle, he comes out stronger. This has been consistent since I started working with him in 2022. Typically, this is a hallmark of highly talented riders with strong engines. You stimulate them, and they improve, whereas others might reach a plateau. Davide keeps progressing, and after the Giro d’Italia, he made an incredible leap forward.”
A noticeable leap?
“We know how beneficial a three-week race can be for riders with strong engines. Piganzoli essentially returned at Burgos, as he raced in Slovenia after the Giro but had a knee issue and had to stop. At Burgos, he finished eleventh in a field of incredible competitors. He delivered the best time trial of his career up to that point (27th, 1’04” behind Jay Vine). Then in Luxembourg, he was incredibly strong on a course with short climbs. He also delivered another excellent time trial (15th, 43” behind Ayuso), culminating in his performance at the Emilia. In the days leading up to the race, I noticed he was at a higher level. That podium reflects not only his performance but also his growing personality.”
He won in Antalya before the Giro and tackled Mount Teide for the first time. How did that go?
“He responded very well. We had already prepared for two Tour de l’Avenir races with the national team at Sestriere, and his response was always remarkable. I clearly remember that after every altitude block, he came down stronger than before. He started 2024 at a good level and won in Antalya. Then he raced Tirreno-Adriatico and went back to altitude training. Afterward, he raced the Tour of the Alps, finishing tenth, improving from his 18th place at Tirreno. Then came the Giro, which marked another step forward. He had never shown the ability to sustain performance beyond one week. I vividly recall the last climb of Monte Grappa. It might not have been visible on TV since he was behind the top group, but he finished among the leaders (16th) on the final mountain stage after three weeks in his first Giro d’Italia. That’s highly significant. After the Giro, he undoubtedly shifted to a higher gear.”
At the Giro, he wanted to push through to test himself. Was he always consistent?
“He was incredibly consistent, except for one stage in the final week where he struggled. On the Brocon stage, he fell behind far from the finish, chased among the team cars for two hours, and rejoined the main group at the start of the last climb. He still finished in the top 20, saving his position in the standings. He was consistent throughout, except for that day, which could have jeopardized everything. Instead, he saved himself with remarkable mental resilience. At the Giro, he pushed himself not just to test his limits but because quitting simply doesn’t cross his mind. No one can convince him to stop. And when he pushes through, he does so completely, all the way to the end.”
Can the progress he made after the Giro be quantified?
We conducted tests, of course. The improvement in raw performance metrics wasn’t dramatic. The most significant gain was in durability. He can now sustain a certain level with greater ease and for longer durations, which changes the dynamics of final stages. Additionally, with his growing confidence, he races differently, and everything works better. It’s always a multifactorial matter.”
Piganzoli turned 22 in July; he’s young. Should we expect a more robust winter preparation to take another step forward next year?
“We’ll continue in the same way but with more volume. After the Giro, he demonstrated a level that requires more training. Mentally, this won’t be easy, but it’s necessary. If we aim for a better Giro next year, training will be key.”
There’s a sense that he’s still physically developing and has room to grow…
“I completely agree. At the 2022 Avenir, he weighed around 62.5 kg and was still incredibly strong. In his first pro year, he dropped to about 61 kg, and now he comfortably sits around 60 kg. He certainly still has room for growth. Having come up through the Fundación Contador, he’s had a balanced development. You don’t have to win everything at 19. Consequently, there are steps he continues to handle brilliantly.”
Will there be a focus on gym work this winter?
“The gym is essential for the neuromuscular aspect of movement and improving efficiency, not strictly for strength. We’ve been doing specific strength work on the bike for some time, tailored to a climber like him.”
Do you keep in touch often? What kind of relationship do you have?
“We have a great relationship. When he’s not racing, I like to let the riders enjoy their peace. We started working together in 2022 with Fundación Contador, and things clicked immediately. I can’t recall a race we prepared for that didn’t go as planned. Davide is extremely intelligent, with two gears more than many others because of his intelligence and responsiveness. We get along very well; he trusts me, and we often go out for dinner—him with his girlfriend, and me with my family. I’ve met his parents; it’s a genuinely good relationship.”
Piganzoli has always been strong in time trials. Is this something to develop further, or is it already a priority?
“It’s already a priority. As a junior, he placed third in the national team time trial championship and made the podium in the individual time trial. In his second U23 year, he won the Italian championship, and I was in the car that day. It’s a fond memory because the course didn’t suit us; it was better for heavier riders. But since there were many turns, we focused on line optimization, studying the course on Google Maps. As he handles a time trial bike exceptionally well, he won by 7 seconds over Montefiori. However, things didn’t go well at the Tirreno-Adriatico time trial…”
Why not?
“His position was off, his crankset wasn’t ideal—a series of issues that didn’t convince us. So we visited the biomechanic, who corrected things, and he improved significantly at the Giro. At Burgos, he took another step forward, and in Luxembourg, he improved even further. So we’re on the right track. We need to refine his position and work on the equipment, as materials are critical. But it’s clear that time trials are a top focus because he cares deeply about them. If you want to upset him, tell him not to prioritize time trials. ‘Piga’ is strong both uphill and against the clock; he looks forward to time trials and never sees them as a burden. One thing we can say: Davide Piganzoli is undoubtedly the prototype of a stage race rider.”
Credits: https://bici.pro/
