First place in the Swiss cyclocross championship for under-23s: this is one of the objectives that Matteo Oppizzi from Neuchâtel has set for himself. The competition takes place on January 12 in Montreux. The 23-year-old Canadian-Swiss cyclist aims to make the top 15 at the world championships on February 1 in Liévin, France. Currently semi-professional, Matteo Oppizzi hopes to turn professional. He explained Wednesday in La Matinale that he started cyclocross when he moved with his family to Canada at the age of 12. “I started mountain biking here, in the Neuchâtel region. When my family moved to Canada, I had the chance to go to a sports study course. And we were asked to start cyclocross. And I discovered a discipline that I really liked. » Alongside his training, Matteo Oppizzi studies human sciences by correspondence. He hopes to turn professional and be able to make a living from sport.
One of the big goals this season is to win the Swiss M23 cyclocross championships. And the people of Neuchâtel believe it. “I think it’s playable this year. Two of the big competitors moved up to the category above. I really think I have a chance. (…) This is my last year in the under-23s, so if I want to win the title it will be this year. » He also believes that finishing “in the top 15 of the world championships is playable. » Next race for Matteo Oppizzi on Sunday in Dublin for the first round of the Under-23 World Cup. “The objective will be to place myself in the world U23 peloton to find out what I am still missing to achieve the objective of the top 15 in Liévin. » /sma
Swiss
