We didn't even have time to get off the plane after several hours of flight from Canada, that Letizia Paternoster is already available to tell his victory at the Gatineau Tower on Sunday. This, as well as her ringing voice despite the trip and jet lag, clearly shows how much this success means to her. A victory that has been awaited for 5 years, since the conquest of the European U23 title in 2019, a victory that truly has the flavour of something that closes a difficult period, marked by many bad moments but also by that resilience that has now become its trademark.
«I was sure that sooner or later success would come – begins the thirty-year-old from Cles – but This victory gave me a strong sense of liberation, especially because I had come so close so many times this season.. For example in the first stage of the Tour of Britain I really thought I'd made it. Before leaving for Canada, I felt I was in the right condition; I knew I'd trained well."
What was it like after Paris?
It wasn't easy, especially mentally, to be able to recharge after an Olympics that didn't go as I had hopedI have to thank the team, who didn't force me to get back into shape. This helped me grow; in training, I noticed I was reaching levels I'd never reached this season.
Even before Paris, you said you were very satisfied with the road season. Are you feeling encouraged after your victory across the Atlantic?
Certainly, because it has always been on the rise, reaching heights I had never touched before, but with the awareness that there is still room for improvement. Now with the strength that the Canadian success has given me, I want to continue on this path to Simac Tour in the Netherlands and do well in comparison with the best. Then also based on the provisions of Villa I'll think about the track world championships, but I'll focus on them after Holland.
In spring Pinotti The person who supports your preparation had emphasized the need to work much harder than before. Is this the key to your transformation?
I have to say thank you to all the trainers who follow me, those in the team, because they take care of every little aspect of training. When I entered the Liv Jayco AlUla Two years ago, I was starting from scratch; I'd completely lost three years of my career due to various physical problems. It really took a lot of faith to believe in myself. In 2023 I was consistent, but even just getting into the top 10 meant a lot. I was part of the journey.. Getting to the specifics, my workload has changed, it's increased, but the important thing is that my body has gotten used to and is getting used to ever-increasing workloads; it responds and responds. I recover better and at higher frequencies, and I know I can still do much more, in training and consequently also in competition.
What was the Canadian race like?
Very nervous, it reminded me a bit of the Roman Liberation circuit. My teammates were very good at keeping the race closed to get to the sprint and they built a fantastic train to lead meThe pride of raising my arms to the sky, of showing off this jersey that has given me so much but that I hadn't yet been able to repay with a victory, was a moment I will never forget.
Let's go back in time a little, also in the wake of this positive spirit, and talk about Paris...
I've learned, with everything that's happened to me, that you have to take the positive aspects from any experience and let go of the rest. It wasn't a happy Olympics, but by thinking about it I understood my mistakes and my shortcomings to become stronger than beforeI, too, struggle to understand what went wrong. The Covid I contracted during my time at altitude certainly didn't help, but I did my part by managing some things poorly. I didn't approach Paris with a clear and calm mind, which is why I say the mind plays a huge role in our profession.
Are you referring only to the omnium progress of the last day or to the entire shipment?
This is a general statement, which concerns my entire Olympics. I wanted something much more, and I knew I had every chance of achieving it.
Will the track continue for part of your journey?
Of course, of course... I'm not giving up, even this season it has been seen that I'm at the level of the best, for example at the Nations Cup in Canada only the Valente who then went on to win the Olympic gold by dominating the race. I know my value, and Villa knows it too. I have many goals to achieve in the coming years, and I want to achieve them with the warrior spirit that is increasingly emerging within me.The result of Paris is that I'm now even more hungry for success…
