CARPI – Their first season together with Ceratizit-WNT It's almost over and there's another one knocking at the door after the winter rest. This year Arianna and Martina Fidanza found themselves teammates, like in the days of dad's Eurotarget Giovanni, even if their competitive paths crossed (perhaps) less than expected.
Only 15 races (for a total of 21 days) were run together by the "Fidanzas" (as they were nicknamed in the German team), who despite everything both managed to leave their mark on a particular occasion. at the end of January Arianna He had opened 2023 with a bang by winning immediately in Almeria the first race of the European calendar, the family peak is reached in April on Easter Monday. All Ronde de Mouscron Martina wins the sprint led by her sister practically by a wide margin (then fourth) and after the finish line the celebrations break out. At the Giro dell'Emilia We took the opportunity to relive that moment with both of them, as well as to take stock and look to the future..
What kind of year was it?
MARTINA: «Of ups and downs. I had several falls, with some blows to the head that always stopped me A few days longer than expected. My sciatic nerve also gave me problems. However, I managed to get a road victory and two second places.On the track I came within a whisker of winning medals at both the European and World Championships (in the scratch race, fifth and fourth, ed.) and it burned me so muchIn any case, I still have some races to do. From October 9th to 19th I'll be traveling to China for the Tour of Chongming Island and the Tour of Guangxi (both WorldTour races, ed.) and I'll finish my season there."
ARIANNA: «A great season at the beginning. I prepared well, but… I didn't expect to win in the first race. Morale rose immediately. UAE Tour I tried to get into the rankings, doing well on the climbs. In June I had a few too many fallsEven though the team made me run a lot more, I couldn't find the right pedal stroke anymore. Plus, in the summer I always suffer from the heat, and that also affected me. Now I'm basically done running. This year was also my first year with many races under my belt. (55 days, ed.) so I didn't even know how to handle myselfThis experience will help me manage myself better next year."
What was it like to be back on the team with your sister after so many years in a bigger team like Ceratizit?
MARTINA: «It was nice. Last time we played together for the 2018-19 two-year period, but now there's a different flavour because we're in an important team. who has applied to become a WT for 2024. I honestly hoped to be able to do more with her, but the schedule always changes throughout the year. In any case, I have to thank Arianna for what she did for my victory at the beginning of the season. You can feel the harmony while running."
ARIANNA: «It was exciting, without a shadow of a doubt. We haven't done many races together, but when we did we ran very close.We manage to get along very well in the various phases of the race. In fact, even when we were on different teams, I always had the thought of checking Martina where she was in the group and what she was doing. Now it's different even before the race to support each other."
How was the success of Mouscron seen by Martina and Arianna?
MARTINA: «It's a victory for me that must be shared with Arianna and also Kathrin Scheweinberger, author of a great work. It's as if all three of us had reached the top step of the podium.Without them, I wouldn't have even been able to achieve that result. »
ARIANNA: «Something similar had already happened when we did the open races but this time it's a completely different thing. It was a great day. It was nice to give everything I had for her.I ran the whole race looking for Martina because I believed in her, more than she did. The race was tough because of the strong wind and bad weather. The group kept breaking up. I tried to stay ahead and keep an eye on her position. Every now and then in the most difficult places I brought it back insideI told her not to give up, and she replied that she was struggling. I told her to believe in it until the end. because they were all tired and he could do it. I even told him in a rude way because I don't take half measures. (laughs, ed.) In general, I have a lot of faith in Martina because I think she's one of the strongest sprinters. She needs to improve over the distance and focus more on the road, then she'll achieve great things."
What did you learn from her and what did you teach her during this season?
MARTINA: «Good questions, let's say we support each other (she laughs heartily while looking at her sister in front of her, ed.). Jokes aside, I learned from Arianna to never give up because she knows how to react in very difficult momentsBut I've always learned this from her, not just this year. I've also learned to have a lot of patience, which takes a lot with her (he says smiling, ed.). I don't know how I taught her, though; she'll tell you in a bit.
ARIANNA: «She says I taught her not to give up, but I learned the same thing from her. I think about when she won the second world cup In the scratch team, which was coming off a rough patch, after Covid and broken ribs. No one would have bet on it. My sister taught me to be less mentally careless and more precise. (smiles, ed.)».
Future goals, even in the medium term?
MARTINA: «If I look at the short term, now I'm thinking about rest. I won't do much, but I will have to take a break for two weeks without the bike because then there will be the European track championships in January. For the rest, I'm definitely looking forward to next year. I'm thinking step by step. I would like to be able to go to the Olympics and be a full participant since I was a reserve in Tokyo in 2021.. Well, maybe after Paris I'd like to earn a spot on the road with the national team. We'll see how we can do it and work on it more."
ARIANNA: "We will be together in Ceratizit also in 2024, I wanted to spend another year together with Martina We'll see. I definitely want to confirm my performance by returning to the levels I had at the beginning of the year. I'll do everything I can to get back there, but first I'll rest and give my body time to recover. The intention will be to find a good physical condition and maintain it throughout the season..
National chapter?
MARTINA: "With the track group we are very motivatedWe have some big events next year. Before thinking about our Olympic spot, we need to be sure we've qualified. We're in a good position, but we can't let our guard down. We need to achieve good results in the Nations Cup and European Championships. Everything is still to be built.After the holidays I will slowly start again, trying to find a suitable condition for the European Championships and trying to make my contribution."
ARIANNA: «Last year I ran in the Mediterranean, European and World Games. This year I honestly expected a little more consideration, especially at the beginning of the year when I was doing well, there was no contact with the national team. I was a little disappointed, we'll see how it goes next yearWearing the blue jersey and defending its colors is always a great feeling. This is a goal that comes naturally. The main one is to get results with the team in the important matches that I enjoy, like the Belgian Classics. If I do well there, then the national team could come as a consequence».
