It makes you think about when we called his brother Simone a few days after the gold in TokyoWe were curious to know how his life had changed, and we were struck by the fact that the Bergamo native had reset everything. He immediately dove back into road racing, wearing the Cofidis jersey he wore three years ago. Likewise, when Chiara Consonni's voice comes on the other end of the phone, smiling as always, we have the same feeling. The Bergamo native is on the track preparing the World Cup in Copenhagen which will begin on October 16th.
A bunch of flowers
On August 9th, at dusk, Chiara Consonni has become Olympic champion of Madison together with Vittoria GuazziniWe had the story of Tuscany hot made and we took it back a few days ago In Zurich, the Bergamo native was missing, facing a team change and a season in which she hopes to realize her road cycling dreams.
«It's the same story – he laughs – nothing has changedThere were a few official commitments, two full months. I realized something was different because I came to Rome twice, but I swear that people don't recognize me on the street. The welcome I received from the group at the first race was different than the ones after. They welcomed me well and every time they call my name on stage and say I'm an Olympic champion, it affects me a bit. Once they even gave me a bouquet of flowers..."
Redeeming Paris
Chiara is a blend of cheerfulness and determination. She transitions effortlessly from a glamorous cover photo to the fierce grin of a champion on the hunt. And when he says that he wants to go to the track world championships to make up for the Paris quartet, you have to believe that the plan has already taken shape in his head.Because fourth place in Paris is a morsel that has remained indigestible.
«It won't be an Olympic rematch – he says – but we want to redeem ourselves. It motivates us to make a good quartet and personally, it's nice to win a world championship as an Olympic champion.We arrive there a bit scattered. We all do the Simac Ladies Tour, except Martina Fidanza and Vittoria Guazzini who will take part in the Chrono des Nations with the team. I don't know yet what Elisa Balsamo's plans will be.We were at the wedding, it was beautiful. She'll also race in Holland, but I don't know about the World Championships."
Madison in extremis
It is precisely thanks to that tenacity that Paris brought the gold to the Madison. So as not to leave empty-handed. Without the sense that the hard work and commitment put in over the last year, with one foot on the road and the other on the track, had fallen on deaf ears.
«I found out three days before that I would be running the Madison – Consonni recalls – because initially it wasn't in my plans, but in Elisa Balsamo's. However, we knew that due to his fall, there could have been a replacement and that's why I tried to prepare her. Together with Vittoria (Guazzini, ed.) I raced and won in Ghent at the beginning of July. It's true that lately she had always raced with Elisa, but I remember that in 2018 we had done two or three World Cups, doing wellWe have no problems with our character compatibility, also because of the amount of time we've spent together. While technically the balance is the sameShe is fast in her step, I am fast."
New Year New Life
Next year will be a year of new shirts and teammates. We are waiting for the official announcement, we won't go into details, but it is a fact that Chiara Consonni is on the verge of another clear change, like when he moved from Valcar-Travel&Service last year to UAE Team Adq.
«I haven't thought about it much so far – he says – I had my head on the races and I haven't digested the decision, which I hope is the right oneI hope to find a great group of girls and a great staff, who will allow me to always experience the races with a smile. I'm satisfied with my season. I haven't won a Northern Classic, but third place at Ghent-Wevelgem is a good result.I still regret the Roubaix, because I punctured in the wrong place. I think that next year, visa the increase in distances and differences in altitude, I will have to continue to increase the road workI saw that at the Giro I was suffering in the hardest stages, because working on the track probably meant I lacked solidity. But I won't abandon the trackSo now let's focus on the World Cup and then this year no China, the team decided so. It will be a different winter, in which I will have many things to remember, above all the fact that I was able to share the gold with my brother and my family. Among the many awards this busy summer has given, this was definitely the best."
