Some days you have to take the good that comes and give thanks. This is perhaps what Elisa Balsamo thinks while He tells his story of misadventure and the podium that came so unexpectedly..
«At about 10 minutes from the finish line – he says – the front wheel hook of one got caught in the spokes of mineWe got stuck. I was lucky I didn't fall. I destroyed my shoe while crawling. She kept going, I had one foot down and was still skatingI didn't even think I'd be able to come back for the sprint. In the end, I got on the podium. I'm a little disappointed, but that's okay."
Test on debut
It was freezing cold, so we had to think about whether it was worth running at the start. It's been snowing since yesterday, in some areas the meadows are white. Even all around the villa rented by Valcar the countryside was frozen and white, while In the living room on the ground floor Elisa studied and from time to time looked outside to see what the weather would be like tomorrow. And this morning in Schoten it was just freezing cold. It's the first edition of the Scheldt Prijs for women, after the one of men saw the light in 1907 and is the oldest race in Belgium.
With all the bars closed, your teammates save your life with a hot drink That saves your life. At 10 a.m., the coaches' meeting decided that she would compete the full distance, and when the race began, none of the girls backed down or seemed willing to give each other presents.
Bad day
After arrival Her classmates ran to meet her, asking for the result, telling her their misadventures., some apologizing for their perhaps inadequate contribution. And who knows if without Vittoria Guazzini's withdrawal the ending would have been different. Probably yes. But as Elisa says, Ifs and buts don't get you anywhere..
«I'm sorry – she says – because this Northern campaign went very well, we got many positive placings, but I missed the podium in De Panne and GhentToday we were here to win, then the podium is fine, but it's a bit disappointing."
Trip to Rome
Yet her journey has just begun. Tonight around dinner time, the Arzeni girls will have their return flight and Balsamo and Guazzini are expected in Rome early tomorrow morning for the vaccine., then they will return home waiting to restart training on the track. From here to Tokyo There won't be many recovery periods. So much so that jokingly, in the house lost in the Belgian countryside, yesterday they were telling each other to take advantage of those hours of waiting. They will really miss it soon.
