'I looked like an idiot on TV and came close to quitting' says Gianni Moscon

Patrick Lefevere and his Soudal Quick-Step team decided to roll the dice on Gianni Moscon over the winter, offering the controversial Italian a one-year deal in a bid to help rescue the rider’s failing career and bolster the team's domestique department.

The Italian, who spent two disappointing seasons at Astana, admitted that he came close to quitting the sport last year after suffering from the effects of long Covid and then enduring an injury-hit 2023 that left him short of fitness, form, and morale.

“I often lose motivation. Sometimes it felt disrespectful that I had to race in those circumstances. I looked like an idiot on TV,” the 29-year-old told Het Laatste Nieuws.

"Everyone saw me getting dropped. And you know how it goes: 'Oh, he's lazy, he doesn't exercise...' But that wasn't true. If you're not in shape you can't join the former, but sometimes I couldn't even follow the latter. I was dropped every day and everyone saw that happen. If you're not used to that, it destroys your morale.”

Moscon moved to Astana after a long phase of his career at Ineos Grenadiers (formerly known as Team Sky).

He was seen as a strong domestique and a possible winner of major races but much of his time on the team was overshadowed in controversy. He was banned for several weeks after racially abusing Kevin Reza at the 2017 Tour of Romandie and was kicked out of the Tour de France the following year for aiming a punch at Elie Gesbert. Two years later he was disqualified for throwing a bike at Jens Debusschere but Astana offered him a lifeline at the end of 2021.

Contracting COVID in 2022 ruined his first season on the team, and a broken collarbone set him back the following year and left him chasing fitness on a squad that lacked the resources to properly support him.

“Everyone knows that the level in cycling today is very high. You have to be ready, then you can come along. If you don't start the season fit, you can't catch up unless you start again,” Moscon told the Belgian publication.

“If something goes wrong, responsibility does not always lie with one party. Maybe I could have pushed more. But like I said: I was an employee; I have maximum respect for the people above me. I don't want to blame Astana. They did what they thought was right.”

The Italian admitted that stopping his career did become an option before Lefevere offered him another chance to save his career.

“I was close to quitting, yes. I love riding my bike, but the last two years have been so bad... You know, it's easy to be a rider when things are going well. People often asked me if I found all those sacrifices difficult, but I always thought it wasn't too bad. Of course I had to work for it, but that didn't feel like sacrifice. But the past two years: it was all sacrifice, all suffering, and I got nothing in return. It was just frustrating.”

Moscon has already made a strong start to his time on Soudal Quick-Step, helping the team take an early season win in Spain this week. He will form part of the squad’s Classics ensemble before building up his form for the Tour de France, where he will be tasked with protecting leader Remco Evenepoel.

“I will be very happy if I can support Evenepoel in the Tour. I'm on the long list. In the past I have often been part of the winning Tour team. With my experience I can help Remco. In the middle mountains and on the flat stages. Remco is a fantastic rider and can ride a very nice classification. The podium is a realistic goal, Moscon said.