His smile is unmistakable, his joy contagious: Chiara Consonni it doesn't change even after passing through Valcar Travel&Service (of which he is an athlete until the end of the year), to UAE Adq.
The young woman from Bergamo is talking to new clothing suppliers about sizing. And even then, she doesn't go unnoticed. Her responses are colorful, but never over the top. Sitting at a piano in the hotel in Lido di Camaiore, she talks to us about the train, her sprints, and how she experiences a sprint… And the interview turns into a technical and emotional journey.
Chiara, with thelast interview we were talking about you having a bit of anxiety about moving on to the UAE Adq? Is this anxiety still there?
No, come on – Chiara laughs – No worries. After the first few retreats, I've already met a lot of people; everything is very organized and functional. It's a different thing, obviously, compared to the old team but I'm more motivated than scared, let's put it that way.
When you say more organized than the old team, what do you mean?
Just two seconds ago, we were discussing clothing. How does it fit? They were taking our measurements to fine-tune custom cuts. They take care of everything down to the smallest detail, and this also makes you understand the organization behind it. For each girl they have a different program and different things: everyone tries to give all of us the best to be competitive and 100% perfect.
Let's talk about preparation, Chiara: you did two retreats, some more intense training, have you started doing that?
Yes, although I started a little later because I finished the track later. In the first few days, we were busy with lots of meetings: photos, gear, tests, interviews. From the second half, we'll be doing some more kilometers.
You and Marta Bastianelli are the fast wheels of the UAE Adq. Will you test the trains?
Definitely. I can't wait to try them and make myself available to them. Marta, which is a little big dream of mine, because I saw her as my idol when I was younger. It reminds me of when my brother (Simone, ed.) found himself with Viviani. When he passed, and he learned by leading the sprints of his idol, his champion. I see myself so much in him right now. And then I've known Marta for a year because we were teammates in the Blue Flames.
What if it's the other way around? What if Marta pulls for you?
Well, in that case, yes, I would be more anxious! It's not every day you get to learn from an athlete like her. And it's not every day someone of her caliber puts herself at your disposal. But I will take it into account, I will try to take my responsibilities and I will be even more motivated.
Speaking of your brother, did Simone give you any advice?
More on the track than on the road. He always told me, "Just have fun." That's what's important to him; he tells me not to take everything so seriously. Even though now is the time... to take it seriously.
Is Chiara Consonni a pain in the ass when it comes to the train? For example, do you talk a lot? Do you want to be protected? Do you call your classmates often?
It depends. I try to do as Elisa (Balsamo, ed.) did with me. It's an experience that I hope will be helpful. The two of us have taught each other so much. It's about putting into practice those little things he taught us. ArzeniWe try to learn from our mistakes. But in my opinion, until you're competing, it's a whole different story. I'm a bit reckless, and luckily, I have someone by my side, on the train, I always had girls, people, who I cared about and with whom I had a relationship even outside the race. And in my opinion this is another important factor when you're running a train: trusting the companions who take you on the sprint.
Trust really matters…
I, for example, with Ilaria (Sanguineti, ed.), I knew I had to get on her wheel and that if she was having a good day she would take me to the 250 meters in the best position. I shouldn't have told her: "Further ahead, further back, increase..." She already knew everything. And this trust comes from the relationship we have outside of cycling. It helped us at Valcar, and I hope to find the same with the new girls.
Chiara, what is a sprint for you?
When I think of a sprint, Valencia last year definitely comes to mind. The first sprint of the year: I fell, took a crazy fall, and scratched myself all over. They disqualified me. Barbara Guarischi because it had changed trajectory. After that sprint she said to me, "But couldn't you have braked?" When I'm sprinting, I don't think about braking. I feel like giving it my all, accelerating. This is what sprinting is for me… It's hard to explain, I don't know if I've managed it.
And good too…
I tell myself I have to give it my all in those 30-40 seconds. “I close my eyes” and I don't look anyone in the face until I reach the finish line, then I cheer or slam my fist on the handlebars. It's an explosion of emotions. In those seconds, I can express myself 100 percent, thanks also to my characteristics.
So take us sprinting with you. We're at the 250 meters mark, and?
I set off, get up on the saddle, put the gear in the right position, because sometimes I've put the gear in the wrong position, look at the ground and I do 20" where I really only look at the computer. Then I start to see what the situation is, in the sense that I lift my head, look at how I'm doing and continue to give everything until I finish. When I raise my head, I look at the line or I also look at the opponents at what point they areAt that moment I can understand if this could be the right time or not.
How long does a sprint last in your head?
For me it starts from minus two kilometers. After I've done it for 3", but once I'm there it never ends. When you're there, it seems like an eternity, but then it's a moment, a snap of the fingers. And after you arrive, you say, "Damn, I was just a pedal stroke away, or half a pedal stroke away," but at that moment, it's not easy.
Adrenaline and fear?
Not so much fear, but adrenaline, yes: a lot. I'm really excited to be in a group or have a group of teammates working for me. It also helps me sprint when it's my moment.
How do you recognize the right relationship?
By dint of sprinting, you feel it and understand it from the cadence. And whether it's right or wrong, you know immediately. Now, however, we also have an advantage because we run the same races. For example, this year I won a race where there was a flyover at the end. Last year, in that race, we made a mistake in sprinting to Balsamo, who actually finished second. This year, knowing the finish line, I won. I waited and came out just in the last 150 meters.
