VERSAILLES (France) – World and European champion on road and track, Elisa Balsamo has all the credentials to be a protagonist in the Olympic competitionVictim of that nasty fall in the Vuelta a Burgos, where she hit the barriers violently, she seems to have recovered. They say so. the return to racing and the fact that she threw herself fearlessly into the fray of the sprints.
«I'm definitely much better – he says – but the approach wasn't the bestI did my best to be here and I'm very happy to be here. I'll definitely give it my all."
What role will you have?
I'm a fast wheel, so I'll have to be ready in case it happens a group arrivalI don't think that's going to happen. I'm definitely the fastest on the team, so that's my role. But there are four of us, so... I will also have to be careful of any dangerous escapesBut we're a great team, we complement each other technically and we play well together. So we're ready for a great team effort.
Will it all be against Lorena Wiebes?
In my opinion it will be a very open and very challenging race. The teams are made up of just a few athletes, so it is unthinkable to be able to control it with four players., not just for us. The important thing is to always stay ahead. We know there are some big favorites, but the Olympics are a lottery. It's a one-off competition, every four years, which everyone cares about.Many will try to attack and it will also take a lot of luck.
What changes compared to a great classic?
The biggest difference is that the team consists of only four girls. So the group will be smaller than a European or World Championship. The important thing will be to give it your all and finish without regrets.
You're also eagerly awaiting the track tests. Have you tried it yet?
We're quite fond of this track. I trained with the girls today (Friday, ed.). It's been sanded and they were... trying to understand the situation regarding humidity, which could be crucial for the timing and the relationshipsIn the next few days, they'll try to get a clearer idea. We trained, we did some race simulations in Montichiari, and we're satisfied with them. On a mental level, the track is not very easy to tackle..
Why?
In four kilometers, even the slightest mistake can be costly. On the road, you can always fix it. But we're a good group, and I'm confident. The times will go down, everyone has worked on materials and aerodynamics to get here at the topBut the reference teams will more or less be the same.
So many kilometers away from the center of Paris, do you experience the Olympic atmosphere?
I had a lucky-unlucky moment. When I arrived at the airport, my pass didn't work. So... I went to the Resort to reactivate it and for a while I breathed that atmosphere that we had missed in Tokyo, because we were so far from the track. It was the same this time, which is why it was nice, even if only briefly, to experience the unique atmosphere of the Village.
Let's get back to the road test. How do you like the route?
It's beautiful. It doesn't leave you time to breathe. There are no long climbs, but continuous ups and downs.. Those who start from far away will certainly accumulate fatigue in their legs and the true values will emerge at the end. As a team we are ready, we will make ourselves respected. Surely each of us is very clear about what her role is.. an Olympics But no one should start out defeated, because everyone will have at least one chance. It will be important not to suffer the race and not to have to chase, this should give us a great boost.
