MILAN – The last time we met Vittoria Guazzini, we were all still in China, and the gala evening organized by the UCI had the air of holidays and a break from the past. Shortly thereafter, the Tuscan would have left for the Maldives with Lorenzo Milesi To put an end to a very demanding season. Not only athletically, but also, and above all, psychologically. The fracture of the pelvis on April 6 during the reconnaissance of the Paris-Roubaix it heavily influenced herThe World Cup in August and the dream of defending the gold of the time trial conquered in Wollongong they turned the summer into a frantic chaseFor her, as well as for Elisa Balsamo and Elisa Longo Borghini, while another prominent Italian athlete, Marta Cavalli, was struggling to find her pace after her accident in 2022. A problematic summer, to say the least.
Guazzini's return to racing took place at the Italian time trial championships on June 23, where he finished in fourth placeA month later, Vittoria left for the Tour de France Femmes, finishing eighth in the final time trial: a good sign of growth. But when ten days later she raced in the world championships in Stirling, that condition built probably too quickly has presented her with the bill and the verdict was merciless, bringing with it a collapse in mood. Things went a little better at the European Championships, with the Italian team taking second place in the Mixed Team Relay., but at that point all that remained was the trip to China and the need to stop.
Holidays always last too little…
True, they're over and it's already starting again. Last Monday I did three really easy rides, but more to say that I did them. Before, I had been for two days in France from the team for the position And that first outing helped me get back into the habit of pedaling. Except that when I got on the bike, as usual I thought, "Oh well, someone touched my bike or it's not mine." However now we're going on retreat with the national team (the Azzurri will meet in Noto starting today, ed.), so their focus is on 2024.
How necessary was it to unplug?
2023 was really tough, I needed it both physically but above all mentallyIt was nice to get away, though. The coming year is full of events, so we will have to try to be ready. There is no time to lose.
Did you and the team analyze what could have gone wrong?
Let's say that even before the end of the season, before going to China, we had met for a few days. I spoke with the trainers of the FDJ-Suez e we tried to understand what maybe didn't workI say that from the fall onwards it was a downward spiral. That didn't help. Then there was a series of things that, put together, were a bit too much for me especially from a mental point of viewBut that's okay, not all seasons are the same. And if I have to be honest, it's better that things went wrong this year than next year.
How did you explain the Glasgow lapse?
I really wanted to go to the World Cup in Glasgow, so I tried to do everything I could to recover, maybe even more than I should have done when I got back on the bikeBut we're talking hypotheticals here, and if everything had gone well and I'd won a medal, it would have been the story of the year. It didn't, but that's okay. I've reset everything now, It almost seems to me that this season never even existed, because I really have a sort of blackout (smiles, ed.).
Ganna says his first goal in Paris will be the time trial and then he will think about the quartet.
Well, definitely. Time trial is a goal, a discipline that I really like, which I also dedicate a lot of time to with the team. I was in France these days to evaluate the position. How to keep my head, how to position my shoulders so they are aerodynamic. So it will definitely be an aspect I will work on. However, I feel like saying that Next year's priority is the quartet and I think my colleagues agree with me.We know it's a good opportunity. Even though there are many strong national teams, we'll try to do our part and, if anything, we'll applaud whoever wins. But we hope to beat them ourselves.
Will the team return to Spain in December?
Yes, we will always go to Altea, now for the third year. It will be more of an opportunity to get together and obviously put in some good mileage in view of next yearMeanwhile, in Noto, we're starting to work on the road. The track is a short but intense effort: maybe starting over in fourth gear after having done the work at full speed isn't the best thing. And then I'm also happy to meet up with my friends again; it's nice to share the hardships with others. The workout goes by faster and you feel a little less tired.
