In two days he will hang up the number on his back at the Clasica de Almeria for his first season in the WorldTour, but 2026 Federica Venturelli He opened it at the beginning of February with the European track championships in Konya, taking home three medals.
In addition to the silver in the individual pursuit and the bronze with the quartet in two disciplines that represent her comfort zone, the 21 year old from Cremona won an encouraging bronze in the madison in pairs with Elisa Balsam. After having spoke with Marco Villa, a woman's track champion like Bragato, we asked Venturelli What was it like to re-immerse yourself in the discipline that had given you joy and sorrow as a junior and U23?In the meantime, after the continental competition in Turkey, she trained around Brescia, where she is now based in the residences of the city university where she studies Pharmacy, following mandatory in-person laboratory sessions.
Federica, you missed out on silver by just one point. What kind of race was it?
We knew that Madison is a long race, and 120 laps take their toll. We also knew that some national teams' tactics would be to go flat out. Elisa and I managed to get out at the end and so it was.We didn't chase immediately when Belgium started, but we quickly recovered. It's a shame because in the last part of the race we almost took the lap and for us everything could have changedThe final was very tiring, we gave everything, but it wasn't enough.
Were you more satisfied or disappointed?
We were certainly very happy with a result that we consider excellent, therefore satisfied. Consider that it was the first madison that Elisa and I did together, We had only done a couple of tests in Montichiari. We were both coming off a particularly unlucky summer of 2024. For her, it was the first significant experience after the Paris Games, I didn't do a Madison after the fall at the U23 European Championships in Cottbus where I broke my arm.
How did the staff make the decision to have you do the Madison?
I admit that I was quite tense because I still had that memory from almost two years agoIt always scares me a little, since you're on the track with 30 other athletes who sometimes make unpredictable movements. I had to see how I would feel in a group race. However, during the approach and the race itself... I understood that a madison among the juniors and U23 is one thing, while among the elite who are much more experienced and linear it is another. In the end it went like this.
We imagine Balsamo's presence helped you, right?
Yes, absolutely. I immediately felt a great connection with Elisa. She has a lot of experience and I completely trusted and relied on her.She was also very good at keeping calm in the most delicate moments.
Compared to the Madisons you played when you were younger, in what ways do you feel you need to grow?
Already while running with Elisa I understood many details to treasure. I need to learn to read race dynamics better. Or, for example, whether to lengthen or shorten gear changes.. Or other mechanisms that arise during the rounds.
Do you think we'll see Federica Venturelli and Elisa Balsamo again at the next international Madisons?
For this European ours was a forced pairing because both Guazzini and Consonni were missing, who they won the OlympicsThey are the starters, but they were busy with their teams' races. When we're all there, I'll give way to them or to the other girls who are more experienced than me. I'm more comfortable with pursuit bikes (she says smiling, ed.), but I don't rule out the possibility that in the future I might compete for a place in group races too.We're all strong, the competition is exciting, and we'll be able to raise our game even further.
What does your calendar between track and road include?
I will run the Track World Cup in Hong Kong from April 17 to 19 and I hope there can be the quartet that he won the world championship, even just to show off the rainbow bodysuit together and then the World Cup in Shanghai, China, in mid-OctoberI won't be competing in the U23 European Championships in Cottbus in July because I'll be busy on the road. With the UAE ADQ Team after the debut in Almeria, I will be doing the Omloop Nieuwsblad and Le Samyn between the end of February and the beginning of MarchI’ll still be racing a lot of second-tier classics in Belgium before doing Roubaix. With the Vuelta at the beginning of May I will finish the first part of the season and then I'll set the second one.
