«The other day we were here in the gym and I saw two 14-15 year old boysHere in Sicily they have a cult of bodybuilding and many kids spend their time in the gym. So I asked them if they could ride a bike. And when they said yes, I invited them to come to the track.If you don't go looking for speedsters, you won't find them. And I'm almost tempted to go around ringing doorbells..."
Dagnoni's call
Ivan Quaranta is In Noto with the Italian track athletes. With him, the FCI performance staff.Until yesterday Michelusi, today instead Bragato arrived. Morning gym, afternoon trackSome days even on the road, because the surface is still needed. The speed group is numerous and aggressive, things are moving.
"It all started," Quaranta told the press conference with Matteo Bianchi, "when Cordiano Dagnoni called me. We needed an extra person alongside Marco Villa, who could follow the speed disciplines. Something had already been done in previous years, because Predomo had taken a bronze in speed and White he had been third in the kilometer as a juniorWe needed a technician who would put his mind to it 100 percent. It all started from passion, skills and time, after an initial study phase».
Studio?
In thirty years everything has changed: the speeds, the tactics, the relationships, the materials, the preparations. At the beginning Marco Villa was very important, because as he walked around he saw what others were doing. Then Diego Bragato. At the first World Cups, especially in Glasgow, I looked like a paparazzo. I went around with my camera, spying on other nations. I took a billion photos and videos and timed them as they trained. I spent weeks on the track from morning till night. The second phase was that of recruitment.
How did you move?
I went to talk to the company and especially with the Campana Imballaggi-Geo&Tex, who had already signed up Predomo and BianchiI spoke with Napolitano, who is going strong and holds the Italian junior speed record. I started to make contact with the riders, so as not to enter too directlyI spoke to families, to parents who want to coach their children, to make them understand that I'm prepared. Then we started working seriously, These guys are 110 percent athletes.
Did the results come right away?
We have done the Italian record in the team sprint at the first raceBianchi improved on the kilometer, we immediately won Class 1 and Class 2. I took them around to gain experience, they needed to runA sprinter doesn't run much, 5-6 competitions a year, so the more they run the better. When the first results arrived, the reasons also arrivedAnd this mechanism was set in motion, which led us to win four European championships and two world titles.
Were you expecting it so soon?
Now I can say that I would have bet on PredomoWinning a world championship is difficult. As long as you're in Europe, you see who wins the national titles and what times they run, so you know what to expect. But you can't know who's on the other side of the world. Malaysia, China, Burkina Faso. The world record is held by an athlete from Trinidad and Tobago. Everything has become more difficult, but Predomo had already done third last year, so I believed in a podium.
Did they expect it too?
I tried to don't let this trust show to keep the tension highBut I saw that they were improving day by day. We are far from the elite, but we have to compete with those of our age. For now the main thing has been to have created a good working group. First of all, however you need good horses, because otherwise you can be the best coach in the world, but it won't go anywhere.
How are things going with Villa?
Marco supports us. I stress 24 hours a day, for an extra bike or wheel, to go to a race, call up a rider, do two extra days of training campHe has to answer for it, but in the end I always convince him. You see we're working well and is happy with the new group that is growing.
What can be said about the Quaranta technician?
I try to be more serious, because I'm 48 now, but my character is still the same. Riders see in me someone who thinks like them. This is one of the greatest qualities a former cyclist has, even if It's not a given that a good former rider becomes a good coachYou have to study, apply yourself, we have to stay up to date.
Is speed becoming attractive to young people?
Seeing the results, there are even students who are moving up to juniors and asking to come to the track. Even some juniors are moving up from first to second year. Tommaso Lupi, BMX rider, is giving us a great hand.It's the sign of a movement that will become competitive throughout the world. If we were to have an under 23 Olympics today, we would definitely be on the podium in all disciplines. So if it won't be for Paris, it will be for the ones after.
And the girls?
They're going through a transition phase. The WorldTour was born recently, so the fast girl thinks of doing the Giro d'Italia or the Tour de FranceThe military can give us a big hand. Some more, some less, these guys will all settle down, in the Army, in the State Police, in the Fiamme Azzurre, which are the three bodies that believe most in cycling. If young men and women see that by going fast on the track you'll be set up for life, then we too will become interesting.
There is someone…
There's Miriam Vece, very motivated to return to Italy. It will be important for her to train with men, because technically she can improve, especially in keirin.We all have some fear, hers is that of sprinting in a group. Then there's Fabiola Ratti, who finished fifth at the 500-meter world championship. There's a nice group of young girls, like Paccalini, Bertolini, and Bolognesi. Then there's also Giada Capobianchi. She races internationally and has had good placings in Class 1 and It could be important, for example in a sprint team as the first riderIn the end, it's all about work. And in this, my guys aren't afraid to work hard.
