KIGALI (Rwanda) – Federica Venturelli's World Championships ended last night with a fourth-place finish in the mixed relay, once again won by Australia, 5 seconds ahead of France and 10 seconds ahead of Switzerland. The Italians finished right behind, but with a much heavier deficit of 1'24". The Lombard remains on the podium in the under 23 time trial, which she achieved on Monday at 2'11" from the winner Zoe Backstedt and 21″ from silverConsidering that the path was anything but suitable for her, that bronze is worth even more. But since we like to joke with Federica and we appreciate her dedication to studying, we set her a simple trap. Which is perhaps a little less so given the effort just made: "What elements is bronze obtained from?"
He looks and rolls his eyes, because he wasn't expecting it. He laughs and thinks. “Copper,” he replies, “and tin?”She's not sure, but the answer is correct. "Really? Then write this down." Here it is, all written down: promise kept.
Can we say this wasn't the path for you?
Absolutely, it wasn't exactly my ideal pathLots of elevation gain. The first climb is a bit easier to pedal, but still quite long and challenging: 2,5 kilometers that took their toll. But above all the final sprint was devastating.The cobblestones seemed never-ending. But in the end, when you get to that point, you try to give it your all until the end. You don't even look at how many meters are left and you only think about going as fast as possible to finish the suffering first. (laughs as if to exorcise the pain in his legs, ed.).
Trying to make a comparison, do you feel you performed better in the individual time trial or the mixed relay?
It's difficult to compare an individual time trial with the mixed relay, but I actually think I was faster today. Probably because I had a couple of extra days to get used to the weather conditions and a bit to the altitude.And also to better understand the route and learn how to manage it better. But I'm still satisfied with both tests.
Shall we give some weight to that bronze?
It is certainly an important bronze, because comes after a very complicated seasonAnd then, as we were saying, on a course that wasn't for me. We all knew Zoe Backstedt would be on another planet, but from second place onwards we were all there fighting for the podium by a few dozen seconds. It was difficult to get on that podiumI had to suffer until the end, but it was worth it.
Did you discover here that the route was so tough, or did you already have an inkling from home?
I knew it would be moved, because I had the opportunity to see the plan and the elevation. However I certainly didn't imagine the last two or three kilometers would be so hard. At the end you can see the slopes of the roads, but the final stretch of cobblestones, which seemed to level out after the climb, was almost harder than the climb itself. It was endless and it was hard to get up to speed, so maybe that's the part I didn't expect to be so hard.And I only found out once we looked at the route.
Let's change the subject. Marta Cavalli, your illustrious compatriot, retired after a series of injuries. You've also had a few setbacks. How hard is it to come back every time?
Honestly, things were going pretty well until last year. However, from the second half of the season onwards, things got tough. One injury after another, one physical problem after anotherAt first I said to myself: "Well, these things happen to everyone, I was just lucky not to have them until now." But when they did happen the second and third injuries in a row, it definitely started to get heavier.
Can you be discouraged when things go like this?
I had a hard time this year around May. I hadn't run for four months, and then once I got back to racing, it was even more difficult mentally. I wasn't in the shape I expected and I felt like I couldn't perform as well as I had the previous year before the series of injuries. But thanks to the support of many people, I managed to not to give up and get back on track. And now I'm here and maybe it means that in the end I managed to overcome all the difficulties and I hope I can always do it..
Have you ever felt like you've come back and that others have grown in unexpected ways in the meantime?
Yes, I experienced it this year for the first time. Maybe because up until the youth categories, even if you were out for a month or two, it was easier to come back because the level wasn't that much higher. Instead getting back to full throttle in professional racing is definitely different and more difficultBut I think there are many athletes who have shown that this can be done and that you can always return to the highest level even after a long break.
Did you bring your books to prepare for any exams?
No, actually. I took a little break because I took organic chemistry the week before coming here. Probably. on the plane back home I'll start studying again for the next one which will be in December.
Let's do a test then: what alloy does bronze come from?
But we've already told you this, we wanted to see if you were paying attention. We'll let her join the rest of the Italian team and then they'll go back to the hotel together.Kigali's evenings were filled with motorcycles and traffic. Aside from the cheerful chaos, the city seemed orderly. Cars stop at crosswalks to let pedestrians crossIt's full of bicycles of the most unusual shapes and loads. It's Africa, it makes you want to stay and explore it. From tomorrow (today) we will race on the roadIt's up to you right away Eleonora Ciabocco, the only Italian in the U23 group. The World Cup in Rwanda enter the heart.
