The Tuscan Vittoria Guazzini immersed in the cold snow of Etna, but wrapped in the warmth of the climate of her national team, it was told in a post-gymnastics session chat.
Why cycling?
My father was very passionate about this sport and he passed on his passion to meSince I didn't know about racing for kids, I didn't start right away. One day, however, a family friend brought me a small racing bike, and I took up cycling from there. Cycling teaches you what fatigue is, to go beyond your limits and to never give up.It's a race against yourself before it's a race against others.
The first result?
I managed to win in the first race already, We were just a few girls, but getting an immediate victory was really great.
In 2017, the quartet with Consonni, Fidanza, and Paternoster…
That year at the World Cup we achieved the world record, it was something indescribable! For months, the four of us had been meeting on the track to train together, over time a great harmony had been created And this is also evident from the results we've achieved. In a specialty like team pursuit there must be a lot of trust between us.
Lots of victories in 2018
Has been a truly satisfying year, both on the track and on the roadI always say that my favorite medals are those of the quarteto because it is a shared happiness, but also the victory in the omnium at the world championship was specialI had fallen, and getting up and winning made me feel really good.
Track or road?
I can't and can't make a choice. The first has given me so much satisfaction so far, the second is where my passion was born and I always dream of one day being able to win a Northern Classic since these were the very races that my father and I used to watch on television. And anyway, I hope to continue practicing both for the rest of my careerOne is functional to the other, On the street you train endurance and on the track you train strength and explosiveness.
The mixed relay…
At the 2019 European Championships this specialty was introduced for the first time and win a bronze together with the boys (Affini, Boaro, Martinelli, ed.) and the girls (Longo Borghini and Valsecchi) It was definitely a lot of fun. There was a bit of anxiety when it was time to leave, usually there's a countdown, but in this case... we had to wait for the boys to arriveI had a crazy adrenaline rush. It was great, it was really great.
The victory you will never forget?
I think Madison at the 2020 European Championships with Elisa (Balsamo, ed.), it was my first victory among the elite. Certainly also the world championship in the quartet in 2017, we were at home, in Montichiari, it was truly special.
Did you ever expect to reach this level?
Until a few years ago I thought cycling was my great passion, a game, a way to have fun; I could never have imagined that I would have made my "game" my professionWhen I started getting results internationally, I realized that maybe things were changing.
The retreat on Etna…
Sicily is a beautiful region. Cycling with certain landscapes around you makes you feel less tiredIt was my first time on Etna, unlike some of my classmates who had already been there. Even the Rifugio Sapienza we managed to do all the training sessions Whether free-body or on the rollers, the staff was really helpful. Perhaps the only downside was having to drive down to the valley every day to train on the bike, but that's a minor issue.
You blue girls of the track…
We are all very good friends, we spend a lot of time together and fortunately, the fact that we are mostly in agreement means that the many days of retreat pass quickly. All My teammates' victories are important to meI get emotional and more anxious than when I'm running myself. Sometimes people assume that winning is easy for us, but that's not the case at all.
This year's goal?
The Olympics! I hope they can be held, because I will do everything to get there. It's my biggest dream just to be able to participate, it certainly won't be a point of arrival. But if it happens, will be a starting point for the future.
Which cyclist do you look up to?
I've always had a “weak point” for Contador, even if climbs are not my terrain, I have always been fascinated by his way of riding since he is an attacker. And I too, as long as I have, I have this spirit inside me.
