FIORENZUOLA – «In recent years Miriam Vece was the standard-bearer of speed. Let's touch wood, but, ranking in hand, She is 99 percent qualified for Paris in both the sprint and the keirin. And it would be a historic event because no Italian woman had ever participated in the Olympics in the speed disciplines." So Ivan Quaranta introduces us to her fellow countrywoman from Crema during the pre-World Cup events. The world championship Glasgow will also produce the last five-ring seats for the track.
And how is Miriam Vece experiencing all this? Getting a ticket to Paris 2024 is an important milestone for her and for the entire movement.Every time we meet Quaranta we can't help but notice how much Italian speed has increased since the last time. The 26-year-old from Romanengo is in the midst of her psychophysical maturationShe's in the ideal phase where she can simultaneously continue to grow to achieve significant results and be a role model for younger players. We talked about it with her.
Miriam, how much has speed changed since you were a junior?
A lot, between materials and the desire to do it. Eight years ago, I also had school and my final exams to think about, so I couldn't fully dedicate myself to cycling. Now with new technology and equipment there are many seconds dancing in the speed disciplinesThen you have to consider the mental aspect. It was a different era for us sprinters. We didn't have much support, we were almost isolated, you trained alone. Now There's Ivan who helps us, it's a completely different worldWe are a group of young people with a lot of motivation.
How do you get along with them?
Very good. I'm the oldest, if I may say so, since the oldest of them is 21 (laughs, ed.). They go faster than me and are a great motivation for me in training, since I am often the only girl in the group.On the track, I try to follow them and do a lot of things with them. Compared to before, I think having this kind of group is the main difference, and then, in my opinion, everything else follows. Being more calm is good for my business. I feel good with them and I care. My teammates have faith in me, as do Marco and Ivan. (respectively the city Villa and Quaranta, ed.) who supported me in the most difficult moments like last year's World Cup where everything was uphill.
To certify your international consideration there were also your participations in the UCI Track Champions League. What does it feel like to represent Italy in speed?
That is certainly a spectacular and highly visible event, but I'm making a slightly broader point.I am convinced that, if not in the next two years, by Los Angeles 2028 our group of young people will grow and will be able to show that Italy is also there.Now the boys are competing against strong and experienced athletes like Lavreysen or Hoogland. However If we continue to work like this, I'm sure that there will be more Italians in the speed department in the Champions League too..
Speaking of big events, you'll be at the next Olympics too, and it won't be just any participation for our colors...
If we were to close the ranking today I would be in Paris but as you can see I'm touching wood (she laughs while with one hand she is attached to a barrier, loosening her legs on the rollers, ed.). Jokes aside, I will be the first Italian woman to participate in the speed disciplines and I am proudI was thinking that it's strange how a nation like ours hasn't had any athletes before me in such an important competition. There's still a year to go, fingers crossed but I'm working hard towards that goalBut first there's still Glasgow where I want to do very well, a step further and in preparation for Paris.
What is the current Italian speed?
It's growing and you can see it too. For me it's a matter of pride to know that I have young companions like Beatrice and Carola (respectively Bertolini and Ratti, ed.) who aspire to do what I didThey ask me for advice, they take inspiration from me, they even asked me to be part of the team sprint with them at the Italian Championships. I can tell you that I hope this can be the first of many to do with the juniors. Rather, one problem could be another...
What?
I'll start from my personal case but it applies to everyone. In my small way I have achieved important results but in Italy, as always, little is known (smiles, ed.) Before, even the endurance disciplines were not very popular, then came Elia's gold in Rio 2016 and the quartet's in Tokyo. Even we in speed are missing the medal of the most beautiful color to make everyone understand our valueEven at the World Cup, one would be enough. What we do is no less than what others doIt's true that starting from scratch didn't help us get noticed, in terms of results. A medal could change things, and I use the conditional on purpose. Last year, the boys were protagonists at the U23 European Championships. White he won gold in the keirin ahead of Napolitano and in the kilometerThey won bronze in the team sprint. And yet we're still there, no one talks about it as they should or remembers it.
For sprinter Miriam Vece, can track and road coexist?
As a junior, I think you can be fast on the track and on the road, even if you're not a phenomenon. Then, when you move up a category, you have to make a decision. The right choice may not exist. You have to do what you love and you have to be realistic with yourself. You shouldn't be stubborn like I see in some girls who struggle on the road and don't like speed. You earn more money on the road, but the track world is changing. International visibility is changingThe Champions League we were talking about before gives thirty thousand euros to the winner, for example. The military can certainly help this development by opening new competitions. We've only just left, but they themselves are seeing that there's already hope for us to go to Paris, and even more so for the next Olympics. And this will do a lot of good for our movement..
