VERSAILLES (FRANCE) – Three is the number of Paris OlympicsThe road race will be held tomorrow, August 3rd. The Italian athletes will compete in threes. And they'll be competing for three medals. All concepts that the Italian striker, Alberto Bettiol, is well aware of.A talent who knows how to assert himself in road races and who has perhaps always lacked the big shot.
Who knows, maybe it could be in Paris, in a race that can be unpredictable. Everyone's talking about... evenepoel, already time trial champion, Van Aert, Pedersen e Van der PoelBut if there were to be room to fit in, and perhaps in a situation like this there is, Alberto Bettiol is ready.
What's it like being the captain of a three-person team?
It's strange. It's the Olympics, it's a competition unlike any otherIt will be like this for everyone, so we must adapt and make the most of what we have. We have imagined how it could go, but it is so uncertain that we have to be mentally flexible.There are teams of three riders, eight nations have four, some one. It's difficult to play tactics. When the race explodes, it won't stop explodingIt will be tough, even if it isn't altimetrically, but it is different from all the others. We have to take it for what it is and think that In Italy there are more than two hundred professionals and here we are three to represent themLuca, Elia, and I are proud to be here. We'll run our race, trying to stay together and move well.
Have you already identified the strategy?
We don't have radios, there are few of us, we must always be vigilant. It will be important to conserve energy, but you certainly can't expect to stay covered.If you fall behind, no one will pull you back. You have to always stay ahead. It will be a long race, maybe even more than six hours. And you feel a route like this in the last 30 or 40 kilometers, because that's where you feel the tiredness.There's no key point that can be identified, it's not like a Sanremo where you know that the Poggio is decisive. Any moment can be the right oneYou have to be ready and maybe even a little lucky. It's not just a question of strength, but also of instinct and intuition. But this should give us hope.
What kind of race are you hoping for?
We want a tough race. Luca did the Tour, he's prepared. Elia also worked hard on the track, he's ready.I have to stay with riders with my characteristics; I don't want to find myself at the finish line with someone faster than me. I have to beat him. And here we're fighting for a medal, not just for first place. You have to take that into account; it's a different race.
You've already tried an Olympic race and it didn't go very well.
In Tokyo I could have done more, I got a cramp and I paid for itOf course, with a trio like that, with Carapaz, van Aert and Pogacar, it was difficult to think about the podium. I had a physical problem, then I solved itIt helped me get used to the Olympic climate. It's not all good, there are also drawbacks. I'm referring to when you have to move to get to Paris, or to get to the hotel, You always have to carry your pass, you are escorted, there are many protocols to followYou can't do as you please. In short, you have to adapt.
How is the condition?
The preparation went well. I withdrew from the Tour because I felt it would be too much, so I avoided the hardest part. The most important event is the Olympics, and I've only been thinking about this race in Paris. I've been training with the girls, I've tried the course, and I feel good. Luca and Elia have also arrived in the last two days, and we're ready to prove ourselves.
Is the approach to a race like this different?
I approach every race the same way. I prepare the same way, I eat the same food, and I always try to get the best I can. But there's nothing to be done, the Olympics are something elseYou can clearly feel it. You don't represent Italian cycling as you might at the World Championships or the European Championships. We're all fighting for a medal that's the same for everyone, for cycling, for fencing, for basketball, for ping-pong. You represent all of Italian sport. We're not cyclists here, we're Olympic athletes. It's a great responsibility and a very beautiful thing. We should be proud of it.
Have you ever dreamed of an Olympic medal?
It's a difficult thing to even dream. It's too big. As I said before, I don't change my approach to the race. When I stop, maybe I'll realize and understand what I've done. Now you never stop, I already know that after this race I'll have other goals and at the end of my career I'll focus on everything. For sure, though, If I were to collect an Olympic medal, I would immediately know that I had done something unforgettable not only for myself, but for all Italian sport. Because the Olympics are something else. And perhaps this can be our strength.
