Although one could go on talking about the federal elections lost by a hair's breadth in the first round and then inevitably in the second, of the surprising about-faces and singular behaviors he talks about, with Silvio Martinello we talk a lot about the Olympic GamesTokyo is just around the corner. And even if the specialties are technically unrecognizable, there are very clear dynamics for those who have been there And on a summer day, albeit a distant one, bowing from the podium, he put his head through the ribbon of a gold medal. Meanwhile, with the reopening of gyms, his center in Selvazzano has also gotten back into gear, and inside there's a lot of work to do to organize paperwork and facilities.
European Championships canceled, we arrive at the Olympics without any reference...
They would have been useful, in fact. As long as we are talking about disciplines based on the stopwatch, the values are the same and we will be able to make the selection even while staying at home.The coaches will work with this in mind. I also believe that the Italian teams, both men's and women's, have the necessary experience. We should be covered, and it seems to me that there is justified optimism. If anything, you'll have to take care of the details, even the smallest ones. A discipline like the quartet is played above all on those.
It's the first time that so many of the quartet have raced in the Giro d'Italia: an advantage?
That's actually a nice piece of news. The Atlanta quartet did well too, but they were all amateurs. I don't know how Marco got there. reconciled the two types of preparation, because now It's time to drop everything and focus on the event. For example, I know that Viviani will do the following in this perspective: Adriatica Ionica RaceI was with Argentin doing some reconnaissance when Marco Villa called him and told him this.
Speaking of Viviani, both he and Letizia Paternoster have been the leaders of our movement for a while now, but they're arriving in Tokyo without the taste of victory in their mouths. What do we do about that?
They are two very self-confident individuals. Two athletes accustomed to certain stages, with the experience to know how to listen to each otherAt the right time they will be able to say what they are capable of giving. I am convinced that both were hoping for a better rapprochement, because winning helpsLet's say this can be a critical phase to manage.
How critical?
Paternoster is part of the quartet and aims at the omnium, in which it has always been among the first. That's difficult though in this troubled year has managed to fill the gap in performance and physical structure, for which he only needs to grow. While Viviani has already won an Olympics and repeating that feat is extremely difficult.. Also because he doesn't seem to me to be the same athlete as he was at Deceuninck-Quick Step. In Madison he will run with Consonni, who has given important signalsThat's also a specialty that Villa knows well and on which he will have to work very carefully. I observed them, as long as I could, They still make some mistakes. The Europeans would have been more useful to them than to their pursuers..
Furthermore, it must be said that the omnium has changed…
And that's not necessarily a bad thing. For sure. he will have everyone's eyes on him, but if previously the omnium had three performance specialties in which the strongest was certainly privileged, there are now four situation specialties.
Can Viviani and Paternoster, who aren't performing at their best, impact the mood of their respective teams?
Elijah is preeminent among men in experience and amalgamation, but In terms of quality and drive, he shares the role with someone who may not yet be an Olympic champion, but is a 5-time world champion. (one in the time trial and 4 in the pursuit, ed.): Filippo GanaLetizia has always been seen as the jewel, but in the meantime he finds himself with an Elisa Balsamo who has grown a lot and is highly regardedMaybe people still see Letizia's image in front of them, but the real leader, as far as we can see, is ElisaThey are all intelligent girls and boys, they will find a way to group together and work as a team.
Do you think Viviani will make the quartet?
I haven't spoken to Villa about this, but I have some doubts. If I had to name names, I would say Lamon, Consonni, Ganna and Milan. From the feedback I have, Elia has been away from the slopes for a long time and it won't be easy to achieve those times. Times that he never achieved even when he was always on the track.
Are there similarities between Nibali at risk on the road and Viviani on the track?
These are not similar cases, even if it might seem so. On the road, Vincenzo has not shown to be in condition, like others who instead flyI'm talking about Caruso, Moscon, Bettiol, and Ulissi. What surprises me, however, is the suggestion that Formolo was involved. Regardless of the tone he used this time, I believe that Cipollini has once again made substantial in-depth investigationsOnly those who don't understand the world of professionalism fail to notice this and, instead of looking at the moon, focus on the finger pointing at it.
What are you referring to?
Mario may not be nice, but he's not stupid and he knows what he's talking about. Speaking about Nibali, he did not criticize the eventual decision to leave him out, but the way it was achieved. Elia has a much better chance in comparison, because he is participating in three races and compared to Nibali, he will have fewer rivals. However It wouldn't surprise me if it was left out of the omnium.
Really?
That's understandable, Villa has to make his own decisions, which will be technical in nature and not based on personal relationships. If Viviani were to be half and half, it would be worth choosing another one.
Is it so difficult to get back on track after a gold medal?
I actually arrived in Sydney with better values than Athens, but something happened that we didn't evaluate properly.
What?
At the 1999 World Championships, the year before, we understood, but not fully, that a shift in gearing was underway. In Atlanta, I'd won the individual points race averaging over 54, using a 52x15 and 19-inch tires. Now, with that gearing, you can't keep up with the pedals. So in Sydney, I rode the points race with the wrong gear and didn't bring home anything. The next day there was the American one and I suggested to Villa to use the 49×14, never used before, which now would still be funnyMarco was worried, but in the end the bronze came.
Today they go much harder…
Today in individual they use 52×14. Team pursuit is done with large paddles, which are difficult to throw, but who's going to stop them? The boys do gym and press, which we didn't know what they were before. It's a changing world. Just walk away for a moment and you can't find your way anymore...
