At the start of Giro d'Italia Donne postponed by a day due to bad weather, but he saw it in the lead in the time trial, Letizia Paternoster tells us about her feelings in the last period and how cycling is central to her life.The rest is just a side dish, the criticisms are meaningless. After the Italian championships, the Italian coach Sangalli he included it among the most beautiful surprises.
Your recent physical shape…
Like many cyclists, I contracted Covid at the end of April, but since then everything seems to have improved. I trained a lot at altitude, more than I ever have before.I'm fine, I'm ready. I've worked hard, we'll see how this Giro goes. After the Italian road championship (she finished seventh, ed.), I've created a lot of expectations for myself. I hope I don't disappoint them, but I don't think that will be the case. My goal will be to discover my limits, which perhaps I don't know yet.
The Giro d'Italia with the new team.
I'm very excited, a little nervous because it's the first Giro, the first major stage raceIt's all new. But doing it with this team, this family, makes me super calm and, above all, very motivated.
What scares you most about the Giro?
The unexpected! I'm happy with my performances, my preparation and how I'm doing.I worked hard and well. So yes, the unexpected is what scares me the most. There could always be, but I don't even want to think about it, it won't happen.
The track world championships are coming soon...
After the Giro my focus and determination will shift solely to those. The blue jersey gives me a lot of energy and motivation, if the Giro goes well, it will be the right one.
What's the main difference between the Italian team and the new adventure with the Jayco-AlUla team?
There is An environment a little different, since Team Jayco-AlUlI feel at homeI'm having a bit of trouble finding any differences, it's a whole different thing.
Sometimes you're criticized for your social media activity and for your various sponsorships, which highlight your beauty and femininity...
I'm not a model! Luckily I have sponsors close to me who want to work and who give me the opportunity to do so.Perhaps this also gives women's cycling a chance to emerge and become a little more well-known than it already is. Beyond this, I understood that Envy is human and often those who speak do not have the same sponsors as meI've learned not to care about people's opinions (laughs, ed.)!
In sports like football, athletes get a lot of sponsorships, yet no one judges them, it's normal...
Exactly! What I love to do is ride my bike and go fastI have managers around me who know when I can dedicate myself to other things and when I can't. Cycling always takes priority in my life, and when I have time, I make room for other things, but it's simply an added value. Let's not forget that this is also a job, an extra income.Let's be serious, who would refuse a collaboration with, say, Nike (smiles, ed.)? The people who are talking are the ones who would probably pay for what I have.
Give Letizia some advice for the summer season.
Go straight on your way, continue in this direction. You've suffered too much for things that weren't worth it.. Go straight towards your dreams without letting anyone stop you.
At what point in the race does your competitive spirit come out?
From the moment I'm starting a race that I believe in and I know I can do well., from the start! I want to win!
