ROME – “This year I definitely came close many times,” says Chiara Consonni. “It’s not always bad luck, but being there and never being able to reach the top with your arms raised to the sky… This victory is a bit of a Liberation in every sense, excuse the pun.I'd never had a three-man breakaway before. Breaking away was incredibly tough; the meter says 270 normalized watts, which isn't a small amount. But that's okay, come on. We tried something different, maybe not what they were expecting. We also wanted to see how we were, what sensations it was, and we did it."
Team domination
Il Coati-Women's cycling's Liberation has recently ended with the excessive power of the UAE Team Adq, finally on a sunny day. Claudio Terenzi's organization is impeccable, It's a shame that Roman politics is so stingy with enthusiasm and sometimes it seems like we are unwanted guests in the presence of the emperors of the day..
Scrolling through the list of starters, it was clear that the Emirati team led by Arzeni had few rivals and this could have become a source of riskWhen it's easier to win than to lose, you never know how it's going to end.
«Sometimes these races that seem so easy – he says Eleonora Gasparrini, the most combative athlete of the day – they are actually more difficult than you thinkWe still managed to do an extraordinary team effort, so thanks to all the other teammates too. We're happy. Why did Chiara go first? It's right. I have already won this year, Silvia (Perch, ed.) had already won this tender, so the “Conso” was missing"For me, it was a pretty good first part of the season. At the Amstel I even managed to get sixth place, so I'm very happy. The condition is improving and the season is still longI have several goals and we'll try to continue like this."
The Blues in Paris
While the girls were walking around under the interested and curious gaze of Martha Bastianelli, the closeness of the coach Sangalli was the way to take stock of the women's movementIn about ten days, a group of eight athletes will fly to Paris to test the Olympic route. Among them also Elisa Balsam, called to evaluate and choose.
«It is important for a rider to see the route – says the Italian national team coach – because I can get an idea, but it's up to them to really evaluate it. It will be difficult to choose four, because the level in Italy is high too and therefore the choices will be made partly based on the condition and also a little based on the past, what one has given to the national team and the certainties that it offers youBecause in a race without radios, you need smart girls who know how to seize the moment or help the captains at the important moment.
"I was at the Amstel – he continues – and I liked Eleonora Gasparrini's race: arriving and holding on to the Cauberg and after the Cauberg is not a trivial thingThe elite of the Italian team are confirming their value, some even above expectations, see Longo Borghini and see Balsamo. Persico we are waiting for youShe hasn't been very lucky lately because she lost her grandmother, to whom she was very close, and she paid a price for it a little at a time when she could have made a difference. Let's wait, there's a lot of time between now and August. In Holland I spoke at length with Dannyy Stam, the SD Worx team manager. I'm happy about this, because it allows us to plan, otherwise it would be impossible to carry out activities. They have Cecchini and Guarischi in their team: Elena is fundamental for himWe see the finishing orders, but those like me who have been following the races in recent years see that in the first 100 kilometers, when it's time to get Kopecky or Wiebes ahead, they are there."
The Giro teams
The Italian women's movement deserves a separate mention. The many continentals of Rome, in the race organized by Team Bike Terenzi, they struggled to keep up with the pace of the UAE Team Adq, a bit like what happens in races like the men's Giro d'Abruzzo, where the WorldTour teams would parade first, then the professional teams, and only then the continental teams. If the UCI reform, which includes the creation of professional teams for women as well, were to go ahead, in Italy we could have some big problemsIt will already be interesting to see which Italian teams will be invited to the Giro d'Italia.
«Protecting small Italian teams is something that the FCI has always done by encouraging invitations to the Giro – says Sangalli – but now Things are changing and protection must be provided by the UCI. Regarding certain reforms, we can't do anything. Twenty-two teams will compete in the Giro. There are the 15 WorldTours, the first 2 continentals from last year and then there are another 5 placesThey've invited Laboral Kutxa and Cofidis to the Vuelta, which are both WorldTour-level teams. We'll see what RCS does, but of course after the Strade Bianche it was seen that the level of some Italian teams is not up to the groupThe Giro d'Italia is certainly a top-level World Tour race, and they'll bring their best. The Federation has been trying to protect the young riders who come through for years. If there weren't any Italian continental teams, many girls who maybe aren't ready yet at 18 would be lost.We need to protect them, but times change and we also need to adapt to things."
The juniors in Holland
And precisely with the youngest Sangalli and Marta Bastianelli flew to the freezing North Holland, on a small island filled with sea and windThe response was harsh and that's exactly what the Italian coaches wanted.
«Exactly – Sangalli smiles – we got what I wanted, which was for them to gain experienceWe wanted to make the girls understand that, while they win on Sundays here, it's a different story over there. It helped them to take stock and understand where they needed to improve.We arrived in an extreme climate, because the wind was too strong even for the time trial, but that's right. In the last stage, a small group of 15 arrived, and Iaccarino was there, who had already run it last year. And this shows that participating is important: in the next events they will do better and when they come home, they will know they have to work harder.
«But the movement is certainly growing. Cat Ferguson he is at Movistar and so he did all the winter preparation with themThis makes you take a leap in quality, which in my opinion is even too much. From my point of view, the middle ground is always the best thing, especially for the juniors. Ours gritted their teeth, and I know there were scouts from all the teams around, so sooner or later they too could be called up there."
The air of Paris
Chiara Consonni heads back home. The team has achieved a significant number of points, After less than stellar results on the roads of the North, the Bergamo native will have more road races to look forward to, before turning her attention to the track. Exclusion from the Tokyo Games it still hurts.
"This time," she says, "I'm more aware. Three years ago, I was still young, a little more inexperienced. But now I know what I have to do, I know where to improve, I'm trying to do it and I'm happyI know what my means are and I'll try to give it my all to get to Paris or somewhere else (laughs, ed.). So now I'll do a few races in Belgium to keep up the pace, then London, then I'll do some altitude training before the Giro d'Italia. And in the meantime, We've already set up track training sessions at least twice a week, so we can get together and try things out. Also create a little more connection. And let's hope everything goes well."
The band plays the anthem, Rome is stretching under a finally spring-like sunA giant white helicopter hovers over the city center. Demonstrations are announced throughout the city. The Liberazione, founded in 1946 when freedom was nonexistent, brings with it the usual wave of optimism.
