Italian, but his surname gives him away, Fabian Rabensteiner is from Trentino, not far from the Austrian border, from the very heart of the Dolomites, an area of crossbreeding and one of the magical enclaves of cycling, be it on the road or in the mountains?
He was born and raised in one of the most sought-after places for cycling enthusiasts, a place where cycling is as essential as the air you breathe and which runs between endless mountain ranges and forests.
For these scenarios, he enjoys these days a few weeks of rest, after a season that has lasted more than eight months, with an eternity of experiences, efforts, trips and rallies.
"I'm not one to change things out of season, I have the routines of the year well integrated during the months of rest, although it is true that I relax a little more at the table, especially enjoying desserts and other dishes that I don't try during the season".
The boy from the mountains
"I live in the middle of the mountains -recalls the Team Wilier Triestina-Pirelli- I was born among them and my free time is spent in nature, climbing peaks, skiing when the snow allows it, partying with friends in the mountains...".
In between these moments of disconnection, a hobby that he wants to consolidate emerges: paragliding, perhaps to enjoy views that he only imagines when he is on the ground: "I'm going to fulfill a dream: I'm going to fly. I'm in a paragliding course that I'll start soon and I can't explain how impatient I am".
Days of low activity
Fabian admits that "the season has been very long, but it has left me satisfied. We started in February and finished in October with the pressure of being competitive during the whole cycle. I'm happy to have won the first round of the World Cup and to be able to hold the lead until the end". In the balance he does not forget good moments in the Cape. Epicthe Andalucía Bike Race and the European Championship.
However, he does not forget the first sensations that the bike gives him, the original ones, the ones that still keep him going: "This is competition, there are no gifts and pain is part of the game, but I feel lucky to be in this sport. Mountain biking takes me through wonderful places and allows me to enjoy them to the fullest and there we are alone, she and I".
As many training sessions as goals
There is no fixed rule in his workouts, especially because every time of the year, every day of the week, he has to focus on the objective: "My workouts are not homogeneous, there is no standard routine for the whole year, because the objectives change and with them the way to face them. It is true that aerobic endurance is the most common part of my training, with almost daily work. I alternate days of rest and quiet outings, with very demanding days of double sessions, in the morning and in the afternoon".
Here he has three routines: "When I do endurance, I set a not very high pace and decide to enjoy the hours on the bike, in the intervals I fine-tune my fitness for maximum efforts and the "Coffee ride" I leave for quieter days before others in which I push harder".
Isarco Valley, What a ride
When we ask him for a special ride that doesn't necessarily meet his fitness goals, he tells us about one he did on August 12.
"It's a MTB ride with a climb that never seems to end, we gain 1,500 meters to end up in the heart of the Isarco Valley and then descend on very technical trails - he starts explaining. The coffee stop is at the refuge of La Finestra, with a cappuccino accompanied by a Strudel, perfect elements to enjoy the descent that awaits us. It's a route I like to do in the company of my friend Franz".
Routes of enjoyment in the midst of landscapes that are known to perfection: "The valley of Isarcoand the Dolomites in general are my training grounds," he says.
"I am very proud of my homeland" he proclaims with a smile.
Which place not to miss in the Dolomites?
He has it clear: "As a local I recommend you to visit Villandro Alp, a place less known by tourists that offers some brutal mountain experiences".
He goes on to explain that "on days off, I like to walk around my village, even if I don't have much time, I really enjoy it, as much as going out in my garden, enjoying the fresh air and the sunshine".
Music and local radio on the bike
Does Fabian take music with him on his training rides? Indeed, "I use to train with music when I go out on my bike, if I have to stay at home and do an indoor training, I tune in the local radio, no more".
Going back to these rest days, he says that I like to give myself a break from cycling. I try to fill the days with other activities, I like alternative sports like walking, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing and shortly .... paragliding. I don't do specific work until the beginning of December, when I do my first winter test."
It's his way of getting to the top with the new campaign on the horizon: "This year I want to maintain that jersey World Cup leader and dream of getting the rainbow that will make Gobik work a little bit harder".
Link to the route in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/9631897705
