But the evening isn't over. Paternoster Triumph

But what is it, a dream? We haven't even finished the golden quartet hangover that immediately after here is also thesilver of the female one and above all another gold. Letizia Paternoster world champion in the Elimination. One of the most vibrant tests of the entire track program.

Sly elimination

Yet, the race had started almost quietly. The Frenchman Grondin had won the Scratch and after the chaos the decibels in the velodrome They had come down. But meanwhile this group of girls wandered around and around... They wandered around and while we were writing about the quartet with one eye, we were following the race with the other. And the blue jersey of the Trentino was always in front.

Eliminated a Belarusian, a Norwegian, a Lithuanian… six, five, four remain, and Pater is still in. And a good one at that…

"Yes – says Letizia at the end of the race – I was in control, because I wanted it that way. I wanted to get my life back. I was fine, I ran well. I tried to always stay ahead and then when in the final I was left alone with the Kopecky I almost couldn't believe it. I thought back to these two horrible years I've been through, and I said to myself: This is mine. I have to take this victory."

And so, like a seasoned former sprinter, Paternoster was already up the curve and then forward before the bell rang. As she stepped down to the top rope, she looked her opponent straight in the eye the entire straight. As she entered the final corner, she was in front. But holding that position required a lot of energy. The sprint was that of a pure competitor. The Belgian managed to just edge alongside her, but never even reached shoulder height. As she exited the corner, her advantage was clear. Letizia Paternoster is golden.

The rebirth

Letizia is visibly moved. She alternates moments of smiling with others of sobbing. It's true. He's going through a period of intense emotions. And especially conflicting emotions. He's been dealing with various problems for two years: falls, a broken hand following a car accident, Covid...

It was truly fantastic for me. A real relief. I believed in it so much, I dreamed about it so much, and when I crossed the finish line, I was stunned.

This is my rebirth, after two terrible years. I owed it to myself, with all the pain I've been through. I went through a truly dark time that's hard to put into words. It was eternal. But that "click" in my head went off a month ago, maybe even a little longer. What made it happen? The desire to get my life back on track.

"I really wanted this race. I started thinking about it at the European Championships, but maybe even before. Dario Broccardo He told me: let's try to do one, but do it well. I had the opportunity of a lifetime. Dino (Salvoldi, ed.) believed in me… – he pauses – Dino he always believed in me and I owe this to him, to Dario, to my boyfriend, to Miki, to Manuel Quinziato My mentor… because they were the only ones who were there for me during these two terrible years. The others are gone… unfortunately."

Between quartet and elimination

In the afternoon, as soon as the afternoon session began, the Italian girls had ridden in fives. They were practicing as a quartet. Letizia also took part in these practices, even though she was supposed to compete in the Elimination Round. It seems that the conditions were being met. Martina Fidanza, struggling with a cold. But once Martina gave the okay, Letizia was able to concentrate on her performance. 

"Yes," Paternoster says, "you saw me talking to Salvoldi because yesterday I was in the quartet with the girls, I had qualified and today I had my race. We rightly opted for this change. In my place came Chiara Consonni. In the end, I took home a silver and a gold. It's incredible!