We left Francesca Selva leaving for Wisconsin, after the series of circuits in Texas where she had broken the ice with American cycling. Remember the story of the Paduan athlete who this year decided to spend the summer racing in the USA? A few days ago he sent us a photo from Los Angeles Olympic Velodrome And it was clear that his American diary needed updating. So we spoke again, taking into account his being nine hours behind, and the story was once again rich in detail and adrenaline.
Was it in the plans to go and race on the track in California or did it just come up along the way?
In progress (smiles, ed.). The team I run for he has the same bike sponsor as me, so we said that if there was an opportunity, I could take one of their bikes and use it. I brought a saddle and handlebars for this, but it wasn't in the plans. Let's say that in my calendar there was everything and nothing, I would see as I went along. And the opportunity arose to do three track races.
What races are these?
There is a nice calendar, They are UCI class 2 races and I have done three of them. Last Wednesday, Saturday, and then today. I've always said I was going to America to run, but if I can also see something different, why not? Let's just say that coming to Los Angeles also served that purpose. Then, since it's an Olympic velodrome, I accepted even more.
Is there a good turnout?
Actually the level is much higher than I expected. For example, there is also Anita Stenberg, who is the world ranking leader.And then there are mainly Americans, Mexicans, and Colombians. There are also some German sprinters, so the level is high and they're coming off tough races. With my preparation, I can stay afloat, but Going back indoors after so many months was definitely a shockThe last race I did on the track was on New Year's Eve, but the last one I really did before having myocarditis It's October. I hadn't raced on the track for nine months, I went for a ride with the national team once before leaving., but in one day of doing quartets you don't get what you need to run.
Then?
The first day was quite shocking, also because In my opinion the track is very fastI just had a too loose ratio, then I put a harder one, but my legs are obviously not ready for that kind of effortAlready on the second day, I managed to get a little better in the mix. I did the scratch, points race, and Madison both times.
Are you dying of heat there too?
Actually, in my opinion, you're worse off in Italy. It's rarely higher than 30 degrees in California., today there are 25.
We left you leaving Texas for Wisconsin to do a Dairyland Tour of America criterium, how did it go?
I have to do another one in 10 days, another one of these five major events. I saw so many people, so many audiences, so much participationAlso because, as I wrote to you in the messages, there are also some WorldTour girls from here who come to put on a bit of a show. It's not a given that they will win, because they are completely different races compared to normal road cycling., but the level is higher than the Texas circuits.
Always street circuits?
The shortest was a circuit of 600 meters per lap, like running a track race, inside a shopping mall. The longest was a kilometer and a half, but unfortunately, it wasn't flat. Every now and then there are also some tears and those become truly lethal.In the last week of racing, the first and last days were the hardest for me, because They usually put the tears in after a U-turn or after a restartSo you go in slowly and then you have to do the block snatch almost standing still. And when you start doing it 30, 40, 50 times, after a while you start to feel it.
Social media shows a large audience…
Yes, I confirm, a lot of people. Then the closer you get to the end, let's say in the last few days, the more people there are to watch. They are real festivals, they take place in beautiful lively townsSo there are restaurants on the avenues where the races take place, or you walk through the gardens of people sitting outside who watch you all day. The races start in the morning and finish in the evening, there are all categoriesThey are classic events, they happen every year. And then there are lots of money as prizes and hence it becomes very exciting to watch because there are people who break themselves to win the intermediate goals.
So is the system always the same as the one with prize-winning goals announced from time to time?
The intermediate sprint is announced with a bell, so if you're not in the top 3-4 positions, it's almost impossible to participate. Especially when the lap is 600 meters, with 4-5-6 corners, you just don't have the physical space to move forward.And there were days when there were even $1.600-$2.000 per intermediate finish. The thing that makes the races very difficult and very fast is that maybe you have 3-4 laps with nothing, then for the next 3-4 laps they sprint for each pass, but they inform you while you are already doing the first sprint.
Did you manage to win any?
I didn't even try (smiles, ed.). Running alone is difficultI had a partner, but she was losing her wheels and we were up against organised teams, in which there were riders assigned to cross intermediate sprints, without worrying about anything elseThey often attack and play as a team. One attacks, the others make a hole and so clearly there are dynamics whereby they earn more money than those who have to focus on the final sprintAnd if, with the condition I'm in now, I do a flying finish, that is, a maximum sprint, I can't even see the final sprint.
How do you warm up for such fast-paced races?
Some have rollers, but for logistical reasons I didn't bring them. On days when I'm close to the race area, say 15 kilometers, I ride my bike. Otherwise, if I have to drive to get there, like now that I'm staying with a family found by the organizers, maybe I'll go out for a bike ride first and then do a couple of accelerations for about twenty minutes before leaving. It's important to keep the engine warm, so I do a track-style warm-up.So a progression that goes from zone 1 up to 300 watts and a couple of sprints in progression from a seated position, just to fire up the engine properly. Because many times they give you these blessed intermediate finishes even on the first lap..
Are we starting off strong right away?
One day I arrived late due to traffic and didn't have time to warm upSo I thought I'd start off a bit slow, take a few laps to warm up and breathe, and then I'd get to the front. I wish I'd never done that! The circuit was full of curves and There were people who skipped the first round, because in the meantime they were putting in a lot of money at each stage and there was no time to breathe. I raced for an hour, closing gaps and trying to gain positions; it was a nightmare. Then I managed to get to the front and sprint, but it really took me the whole race to get back up..
What is it like to live in an American family?
The families who hosted me throughout this period are made up of cycling people, passionate people so it's hard to consider them just as AmericansI mean, the cycling community is pretty universal. What I can say is that everyone tends to be willing to help you, whether it's with food, a ride, or a thousand other things. I have always found availability, but as I was saying they are people who come from the same environment as meI tried asking questions about topics like Ukraine, Gaza, and the Mexican border, because even at home I often get asked questions…
And what did you understand?
When I was in Texas, I would walk out on the street and see nothing. People don't talk about it much.I've been watching the news and everyone's pretty calm. And when I ask them, they don't say much.Maybe it's the distance and they experience everything indirectly, I don't know.
What do you think of Americans?
In California, everyone's a bit hippy, if I may say so. On the beach, you see. the classic image I had in mind even before coming, of people trying to look young and skateboarding to the music. The other day I saw a lady with her dog, poor thing, all painted pink with leopard spots. In Texas they are more normal, even if in the imagination they are all supposed to be crazy. Aside from the fact that they really do walk around with boots and cowboy hats and apart from the fact that you can find firearms in supermarketsLuckily, I've found people to lean on, who are allowing me to experience America outside of cycling. I'm touring different places and have had time to look around a bit.
The program includes the last track race today and then?
Tomorrow I fly to Chicago and From Friday until the following Sunday I run for ten days in a row in the Chicago Grit, with a "g" instead of a "c". Then I go back to Dallas for two days and to do my boss's last race, the one on Tuesday. Then I go back to Italy for running in Fiorenzuola, hoping that all this running will also give me a bit of fitness And trying to figure out which races to enter. But at the end of August I'll probably come back here to take part in the last races. But as soon as my dad finds out, this time he'll really throw me out of the house...
