ZURICH (Switzerland) – “Let’s do like Ganna,” says Mazzone, “let’s put her in the middle, even though she’s taller!” So the Apulian in the rainbow jersey lets Cornegliani, winner of his second world championship today, pass over there and in the middle they put Ana Maria Vitelaru who won the bronze. Like Ganna, Affini and Remco in the middle, only that this time the rainbow jerseys are on the sides. After the victory in the opening relay, Another golden and exciting afternoon for Pierpaolo Addesi's Azzurri..
From dust to stars
The last time we personally followed one of Mazzone's races was last year in Glasgow, when Luca crashed into a barrier during the relay and was knocked out, shocked and humiliated on the final day of racing. Perhaps this is why, Seeing him cry for joy at the sound of the Mameli Anthem, we too have a lump in our throatsAfter that day, the Apulian, who had achieved his 19th title, earned two medals in Paris and the honor of being the flag bearer. But he hadn't expected to win again at 53.
«Many times – he smiles and reflects – when I go to schools as a Paralympic ambassador, I always tell this. When you get a bad grade, don't get discouraged, make it a starting point. A point for having the determination to recover. In Glasgow, morale had really fallen to pieces. Instead, when I returned home, I had the competitive urge to make up for it. Not against opponents, because opponents are still a stimulus. To make up for it with myself, to find that Luca of eight years ago even with a few more years (He gets emotional as he says it, ed.) I wanted to give it my all, I wanted to do well both at the Paralympics and here."
«But really – he continues – I am amazed at myself. I knew that the path was favorable, because the training done at Campo Felice together with my H3 friends gave good hopes.I used to train behind them, and they always complimented me. So I knew I could do well on this course, but not with such a gap to my opponents (Mazzone won by 40 seconds over the Frenchman Jouanny, ed.) who, as I said in Paris, are many years younger than me. This is the result of a lot of work done with the national team both on a personal level, many sacrificesIn this championship I thank the staff, who have given me so much serenity, which means a lot to me. Serenity and a lot of professionalism that allowed me to do so well».
The difference between tubeless tires
Fabrizio Cornegliani is a spring that never runs out. He couldn't stay still on the podium, at least until the notes of the national anthem began to play.. And then he too stopped to admire that flag rising to the sky. At the foot of the stage, there is Ercole Spada, the president of his Team Equa who smiles with satisfactionAnd if Mazzone spoke from the heart, Cornegliani takes it as an athlete on the crest of a wave, mixing emotions and numbers. A Zurich he got there with the Olympic gold around his neck, not just any one.
«I wasn't expecting it – he says – but I looked for it. In Paris I said right away that I was 10-15 percent below the power I expected.So we went home, and I rested because I wanted a better wattage. I started out at a disadvantage, because I don't have all the power on the plate to make a difference. But there was a difference. We used new materials, tubeless ones that we hadn't yet fully developed on the handbike.. Probably part of this advantage here (2'35” on the second, ed.) was due to the tires. They gave them to me two days ago and Compared to classic tubulars, my bike glided and had a level of comfort I had never seen before.».
«This route was too easy for me – he continues – because when there is only one bend in a route, power is everything. But it was a long race for my category, so this made the difference.This and the desire to do better than Paris. I ran against my ghost and it was a good thing it was dryWe have more difficulty in the wet, the braces start to slip and everything becomes a problem. The emotion on stage? When the Mameli Anthem plays, the thrill is always there. Now that they don't play it at World Cups anymore, it's become rare. So when the anthem comes on, hand on heart and sing along."
The races continue. Lello Ferrara takes a picture of himself with the medals around his neck, which is more than a little laughable.There is a queue to take photos with these splendid athletes and as we leave towards the press room, our thoughts go to all the times a rider complains about the cold or the sacrifices he has to make. There's no need to add anything else, we've just received yet another lesson in willpower and the desire to live.. The rest doesn't matter.
