Italy will be racing at home next season European championshipsOn September 12th, in Trento the Azzurri will be called to defend the title won last year in Plouay by Giacomo Nizzolo, who outsprinted Demare and Ackermann. A story of love and passion between the Italian national team and the European champion's jersey, For three years in a row the Italian flag has stood on the top step of the podium. The first was Matteo Trentin, in 2018 in Glasgow to win the first starred jersey for the Azzurri (opening photo), followed by Elia Viviani in Alkmaar and, indeed, Nizzolo in France.
We asked Stefano Garzelli to retrace the Italian triumphs with us to analyze them in depth and understand how Italy managed to win this fabulous hat-trick.
The European Championship was born in 2016. Do you like the race?
It's been running for a few years, but he completely hit the nail on the head from my point of view, there was already the world championship as a long race to "exhaustion"The European Championship, on the other hand, is a modern, short race, where tactics count a lot. A short mileage, we start off strong and this benefits the spectacle and liveliness of the race.
How is it seen by riders?
They like it, but when it was introduced, the insiders were a bit skeptical, but I'd say it hit the mark, even with regards to the technical commissioners. With this race being so different and not far from the world championship, riders can play differently, it is also an important testing ground for some young guys.
So maybe other types of riders, like ours, will emerge.
After 200 kilometers a natural selection takes place, while to win a shorter race you need more tactical organization, to outwit the opponents. It then emerges the ability to run as a team and to be a cohesive group. While in a longer race like a world championship you can hide, At the European Championship you have to run at the forefront.
Italy has always been able to read the race very well, where tactics reign supreme.
We dominated the previous editions! This means that we run well and we know what to do to always be protagonists. This is demonstrated by the three consecutive successes. The one that personally struck me the most was Viviani's in 2019 (Alkmaar ed.).
There was a lot of wind…
They were good at taking him out at the best time and they managed the fans in an excellent manner, then his great condition came out and he won alone. Elia was literally flying that day.
Matteo Trentin opened the dance.
Matteo is a rider who stands out and thrives on undulating and rolling routes, and he doesn't let himself be stopped even in adverse weather. On a terrible day he left Van Aert and Van Der Poel behind him, this means you are strong.
The last one was Giacomo Nizzolo, in a somewhat particular edition
Last year's was a different European Championship, due to Covid we competed in the middle of the season, this changed the cards on the table. Giacomo was ready to do well in the first part of the season after the new start, in fact, in one week he won the Italian and European titles.
It's a shame he can't defend his title
A pity, but he couldn't have defended it to the best of his ability. That of Trento is too hard a path for him, the choice is painful but correct, I see him better at the World Cup, in Flanders.
Will there be other "ours" ready to defend the title, who do you think can do well?
Trentin is our key player in my opinionThe terrain is suitable for him, we're now at a level where even riders like Matteo can handle medium-distance climbs well. He's going strong at the Vuelta, he didn't win but he's always placed well. He's also going strong on the climbs. Another one is Sonny Colbrelli, Italian champion, who had a very strong Tour de France (he didn't win but he found the podium twice, ed.).
Bagioli is also doing well, could he race in the European Championships in your opinion?
Absolutely, it's his terrain, It goes fast uphill and very very fast tooHe's come close to winning the Vuelta several times this year. I expected a bit more on the climbs, but in one-day races, it's a different story. I think it could be a great experience for him and he'll have a say.
