The day after returning from the World Championships in Santiago, Chile, where she won gold in the quartet, Martina Alzini packed another suitcase and left for BarcelonaThis is where we catch up with her, during a break when talking about the recent victory is a great way to have a laugh. She was there too. in 2022 in Paris, when for the first time in their history the Italian women won the team pursuit titleThat time they came out of sixth place at the Tokyo Olympics, this time from fourth in Paris, which in proportion was much more painful. It was not by chance, in fact, that the Italians looked each other in the face and wanted to be in Santiago, Chile, at all costs. There was a disappointment that needed to be washed away with victory, and so it was.
Even in Chile, on the top step of the podium Alzini's expression is somewhere between angry and moved, while the others have cartoon faces and are all laughing like on the happiest day of their lives. However This time Martina has a burst of pride and laughingly highlights the difference.
«It's partly true – he laughs – but I want to point out that In 2022 I was the one who cried the most, but this time the record belongs to Ventu (Federica Venturelli, ed.) In fact, the video that went viral the most is the one where I say to her: “What are you crying about?” and laughingly tug at her. I want to point out that this is a video of affection, a joke.In 2022 I found myself in the same situation of disbelief at my first elite world championship. So I saw myself so much in his emotion and it's nice to see how each girl reacts to certain emotions...".
It's no coincidence that Federica said that in the quartet you're the one who took her under her wing, her sporty mother...
It's true, in my opinion because I told her that in the team (the Cofidis, ed.) I have the same role with Julie Bego, who is twenty years old like her. They are two young rivals, but they admire each other greatly, and in some of Federica's attitudes I see Julie. I also realize that in certain situations my older sister instinct kicks in.Let's not talk about my mother, because then I feel old (laughs, ed.). But yes, now for her I'm "mamma Marti".
Is it easy for such a young girl to join a quartet that has known each other for so long?
No, nothing is easy. It's not easy for us to stay here, either. The level and quality are very high and in my opinion the results and the various confirmations are the fruit of scrupulous work. I think this year was one of the editions of the World Cup that we prepared with the most consistency and regularity.It's not me who says it, but every time we've met in Montichiari. Federica has had a lot of commitments. She's been away a lot between the World Championships in Rwanda and the European Road Championships. But I was surprised that when she was filming with us, I saw her almost without fear., confident in what she can do. She still has a long way to go, but it's not up to me to tell you how talented she is. She's proven it herself.
You said that in this group no one is indispensable, so those who run are truly in top form.
It's something I really like. I found myself in this situation at the Olympics a year ago. Thinking 4 or 5 years ago that a quartet would win a world championship seemed like a dream, but with this group we've shown that where one doesn't reach, another does and we complete each other. In my opinion, the beauty of saying that everyone is useful and none is indispensable is that we are all useful to the cause.We also know that we must always keep our feet on the ground. For me, this is fundamental. I have the honor of working with Olympic champions, With whom we're also friends outside of the club. Last year we went on vacation together, but when you work, you work. And all with your feet firmly planted on the ground: every time a quartet starts, you start from scratch.Titles remain, but humility must always come first.
A mentality that has always been there?
With the exception of Federica, we are fortunate to be all more or less the same age. It's a working group that was born a long time ago and for me this is a great strength.Even if someone found themselves in difficulty, the group carried them along. So I feel like saying that this is a project that started a long time ago and is continuing. And it's a great fortune that we love each other and that we've never had any particular problems between us..
After finishing fourth in Paris, was there really a desire to bounce back?
I think I speak for everyone: In terms of results, the Paris quartet was a disappointment, each for different reasons.There are those who redeemed themselves immediately, like Vittoria and Chiara (Guazzini and Cosonni, ed.), who ultimately concluded their Olympic experience with a gold medal. There are those like Martina (Fidanza, ed.) who said they had a negative period and I understand her well. As for me, I think 2024 was a bad season and I swear that I spent the whole winter trying to reset everything and bring out the competitive nastiness that wasn't there at the OlympicsI wanted to react to that bad experience, that was clear. Everyone says this World Cup is the first step towards Los Angeles. I think it's a middle ground. On the one hand, it's a circle that closes, to say: «Wow, here it is, this is our value, so back to square one». On the other hand, it is a look towards the future, to say: "There's some news, there's a new young player, but we're here too." It's beautiful and motivating.
What news are you talking about?
In my case, the new thing is the role I played in this quartet. I was the second rider, while usually I started or was the third.I enjoy change, I don't see it as a cause of stress, but rather as a motivation.
So the World Cup was the icing on the cake of a season you managed to turn around?
I liked 2025, but it was a roller coaster season (the roller coaster, ed.). We started by winning the quartet at the European Championships in Zolder. Then I stopped because I had two broken ribs due to the fall at UAE TourIt was a season conditioned by injuries I had never suffered before. Fracture of the scapula in the middle of the year, which kept me out of competition for two and a half monthsBut drawing a line now, I admit that perhaps staying still for all that time and starting from scratch also brought some positive things. In October, I didn't feel super tired or particularly fatigued., so I always like to find the positive in things.
In the meantime, Cofidis has replaced Cedric Vasseur as team manager. How did you experience that?
They sent us an email. We participated in a call on Zoom where do they have new boss, Raphael Jeune, announced, whom I already knew because he was in charge of marketing at Look. It's probably too early to tell, but the first impressions have been positive. He came to visit us at the races in Italy, he spent a lot of time with each of us talking about it, trying to get to know us.I like his approach, his way of doing things, which will certainly mean a fresh start for everyone next year. And as I was saying, starting from scratch is often the best way to do well.
