Bodi del Grosso (22) from Eelde was third on the podium three years ago at the Dutch cycling championship for U23 riders on the Col du VAM. A move to the pros seemed only a matter of time.
Three years later, this Wednesday he stood on the podium of the NK time trial with the silver medal. He hopes that he has finally ended a period of adversity.
The silver medal from earlier this week released quite a few emotions from Del Grossi, the older brother of cyclocross and road talent Tibor. ,,I feel that this is a silver medal with a golden edge for me. I am satisfied with this result, but you come for more.”
Injuries
Where has he been in recent seasons? “It’s hard to put into words,” Del Grossi admits. ,,I’ve been struggling with injuries for a year and a half, including my hip. That was so deep in me that it took time to slowly build up again. I didn’t want to rush too much, because then it might only go well for a few weeks and then have a relapse. I really had to do this step by step. I notice that it’s finally going the way it should be. I get the power back, but also the confidence in myself. ”
Yet it seemed that the bad luck devil had caught him again, he said after the ceremony at the Veluwe. “Unfortunately, I was hit by a car two weeks ago. The ligaments near my collarbone were torn. Fortunately I was able to cycle a bit again last week, before that I was only on the rollers; maximum one hour. The condition was there, but of course that is also mentally swallowing. Finally it went well and it’s such a shame that something happens again. On the other hand, in those moments of adversity you feel what the inner strength of yourself is. I can be more than satisfied that I could show it in Elspeet and stranded fourteen seconds from the title. Especially when you see where I come from. I am very grateful to my team A Bloc for giving me another chance after last year and keeping faith in me.”
Del Grosso also drives NK on the road
Del Grosso will also come into action on Sunday at the Dutch National Championships for U23 on the road in Sittard-Geleen. His brother Tibor, Axel van der Tuuk from Assen (third in the NK time trial on Wednesday), David Haverdings (Zuidlaren), Joost Brinkman (Noordlaren) and Eskil Huiting (Rolde) will also be in action there. The latter signed a contract this week that binds him to the continental formation Metec-Solarwatt.
Bauke Mollema is not participating in the pros, but Tijmen Eising (Emmen), Bert-Jan Lindeman (Assen) and Rick Ottema (Muntendam) are. In the women’s race, Maike van der Duin (Assen) and Lieke Nooijen (Coevoerden), among others, are on the provisional start list for the pros the day before.