Davide Formolo said fatherhood has given him renewed focus and determination for 2021, and the 28-year-old is looking forward to a resurgence in the Ardennes Classics and success with his UAE Team Emirates teammate and Monaco neighbor, Tadei Pogachar.

Formolo's partner, Mirna, gave birth to Chloe in Monaco on November 15.

"Being a father makes you realize what is really important in life. Simply put, you stop being a boy and become a man," Formolo told La Gazzetta dello Sport (opens in new tab).

"The birth of my baby has given me more motivation as a rider. It makes me feel more responsible for my young family."

Formolo has shown the ability and aggressiveness to shine in the mountain stages of the Ardennes Classics and Grand Tours, finishing second behind Jakob Huslang in Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 2019 and Wout Van Aert in Strade Bianche this year ( Jumbo Wisma) was second behind him.

He won a stage at the Criterium du Dauphiné in August, but broke his collarbone in the Tour de France. He underwent surgery to represent Italy at the Imola World Championships, but returned to racing at the Vuelta a España.

"I hope to avoid similar physical problems in 2021 and to be able to show my strength. The crash in the Tour cost me the World Championships, which was very disappointing because the hilly course suited me," he explained.

"It still hurts to have missed the chance to defend my Italian national title. I keep telling myself that one day I will get the tricolore back."

Formolo's crash-stricken season coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, causing further turmoil: in February, he was stranded in the UAE after staff and riders from UAE Team Emirates tested positive for the virus. He spent the summer racing and training in protective gear, and a second wave hit Europe during the Vuelta in October.

"It was a bit of a shock, because nobody expected that in the UAE Tour.

"In the Vuelta the situation was different, but we were more aware of the problems. In the Tour and Giro, the race bubble was working. Cycling should set an example for everyone."

"I think it's a good thing that we're not in the same situation as we were in the Vuelta.

Formolo is now in Monaco, living in the same building as Pogachar, team leader of UAE Team Emirates.

"He lives on the first floor and I live on the second," he explained.

"Tadei is a humble, nice guy who lives for cycling. He and his partner Urska are always out riding. I train a lot with my teammate Valerio Conti."

"We are good friends too, and when he won the Tour, I bought him a cake for his birthday. I help him in the Tour and he helps me in the Ardennes. But my crash ruined that."

Formolo is busy with the birth of Chloe and has not yet set goals for 2021, but he has some interesting cross-training planned. [especially in the winter when it's not so cold. I really like living near the ocean. In fact, I just bought a diving suit and I'm going to go swimming."

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