Gianni Moscon hopes his move from Ineos Grenadiers to Astana Qazaqstan for 2022 will mark the beginning of a new chapter in his career.

The 27-year-old Italian has been racing for Team Sky and Ineos Grenadiers since 2016. He seems perfect for cobbled classic races and is a solid time triallist, but his results have often been overshadowed by controversy.

In 2017, Moscon was suspended by Team Sky for a racist rant against Kevin Reza at the Tour de Romandie (although he continued to race) and was disqualified from the world championship road race that year for holding onto the team car.2018. Tour de France he was disqualified for punching Elie Gesbert, and in 2020 he was disqualified for throwing his bike at Jens Debusschere after a crash in the Couleurs Brussels Couleurs.

Although his last stint at Ineos Grenadiers was often tense, Moscon seems content to have more opportunities in the Classics, with special coaching from veteran coach Giuseppe Martinelli in 2022.

"I feel it's a new start. The last few years I have worked a lot for the team, but they [Astana Kazakstan] keep asking me to be captain of the Classic team," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview.

Moscon admits that he could have done better in the last few years, but he tries to avoid criticism of Ineos Grenadiers, while expecting better results at Astana.

"I would never say that the last few years have been a waste. I gained a lot of experience and there were some good moments: I competed in four Grand Tours and won them all... I competed in four Grand Tours and won them all."

"I know I didn't win much, but we will see in the next few seasons whether that is too little or not."

"There are moments when I lose the joy of riding the bike, but this year I enjoyed it. I think I can be more relaxed in Astana and if I race like that I will get the best results."

Moscon returned to his best form in Paris-Roubaix this October. He launched a solo attack with 50km to go and looked ready to win, but a puncture and a crash after a bike change slowed him down.

Sonny Colbrelli, Mathieu van der Poel, and Florian Vermeersch passed him and fought for the win, but he finished fourth. A few weeks later he suffered a heart attack.

"I was diagnosed with an extra electrical connection, a kind of short circuit," he said. 'It was a little worrisome. But I was relieved when I found out that it was not life-threatening and that I could continue racing."

"I was very happy that I was able to continue racing,"

and "I was very happy that I could continue racing.

." He added, "I have a loop recorder implanted under my skin that records everything.

Moscon spent the off-season at home, helping his father pick apples at their home in Van Di Non. He started working in the gym and is waiting for a new training bike from Astana Kazakstan. During his time off, he admitted to thinking back to his Paris-Roubaix attack.

"I thought about it a lot, but there was nothing I could do. It wasn't anyone's fault." He was referring to reports that the tire pressure on his spare bike was not correct for the wet conditions.

"It is much easier to lose a motorcycle race than to win. When they passed me in the race I was very tired and all I could think about was finishing. I was hoping that Sonny Colbrelli would win and ease the pain of today."

Moscon admits to being envious of Colbrelli's victory, but despite his love-hate relationship with the cobbled classic, he plans to return to Paris-Roubaix in 2022.

"I don't know why I like Paris-Roubaix. Perhaps because it is a unique race. Or perhaps because it is a race for hard riders. "

When Moscon attacked in Paris-Roubaix, social media was abuzz with reaction. Some were very critical, going back to his past and racist behavior, even suggesting that karma intervened when he fell over.

The Italian media rarely asked about Moscon's past, and he showed little remorse. He claimed he was not influenced by social media comments.

"Maybe it's natural because of my past," Moscon suggested. [But I'm not interested in what people write about me on social media, nor do I find it offensive. I just see tractors on social media, and that's what I'm really passionate about."

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