Women’s Cycling Profiles: Francesca Pisciali

Date of Birth: 19th May 1998
Nationality: Italian
Team: Eurotarget-Bianchi-Vittoria
Former Teams: Top Girls Fassa Bartolo & Servetto-Giusta
Career Achievements:
16th – Stage Giro delle Marche (2019)
19th GC Giro delle Marche (2019)
20th – National Championships TT (2019)
12th – GC Giro delle Marche (2019)
13th – 2x Stage Giro Rosa (2018 & 2014)
14th – Fleche Wallonne (2018)

Who taught you how to ride a bike & how old were you?

My mother taught me how to ride a bike but I’m the last of three siblings so, because it was the third time she had to do that, it has been kind of a “nasty” lesson like: “okay Fra, just use your stronger foot to start and spin your legs as fast as you can.”

I used to keep my balance for like a metre and then fall…the day after two metres, then three, four…till one day I finally got it ????

What was your first ‘proper’ road bike & what colour was it?

My first road bike was a black and yellow “boeris” with red tape. What I really liked about it was that it has two different tyres: a black one and a green one on the front wheel. Awful match thinking about the colours of the frame but at the time I found that very cool ????????

What’s the most important piece of kit/advice that has helped boost your performance?

I haven’t a particular “good luck charm” (luck is not really my thing) but when I am in the middle of an effort I often repeat to myself: “Don’t give up. You can rest at the end, not in the middle”. I’m quite sure I heard that in a Kobe Bryant interview.

What’s your favourite routes/places to ride?

I live in South Tyrol so I can’t imagine a better place than the Dolomites to ride my bike…when I’m surrounded by those peaks I simply feel at home.

When it comes to races though, I really love the atmosphere that you find in Belgium and the Netherlands: the legendary roads, the cobbles, the unpredictable weather, the crowds…something unique!

What tips do you have to keep the love of cycling going amidst all the training?

I think that the most difficult part about being a professional cyclist is not about how hard you have to train. In fact, when riding becomes your job, it will influence your entire lifestyle: you should eat properly, you have to rest and sleep enough…not much time to party ????

Joking aside, if you really like what you do, every sacrifice, every drop of sweat, will be worth it!

What experiences are still to do on your cycling ‘bucket list’?

Sooner or later (but hopefully soon ) I’m definitely doing a “backpacking holiday” with my bike. New roads, new landscapes, lot of sunsets…not for training, not for races, just enjoying the view! Just riding!

Thanks for reading about Francesca Pisciali – more Women’s Cycling Profiles can be found here