The retreat on Etna is concluded and in the face of the cancellation of the first road races, Salvoldi rolled up his sleeves and redesigned the activities of his girls so as not to lose the work done in SicilyMontichiari returns to being their home for two days a week, and that continues until the first away games. The coach is good; there's little to say or criticize for the victories. It suffered some heavy shocks, but responded with workIf a city did not have the trust of his athletes, certain results would hardly be achieved. Nevertheless, the uncertainty of what will happen after the federal elections in February clashes with the reasoning that has been done for some time on a group of girls who will have Tokyo as a passage and Paris 2024 as a true Olympic goal.
"Knowing you're working to a deadline destabilizes you a bit," he admits. "In some ways, it makes you lose power with the teams. We've always said this group is on their way to Paris. Now, however, we work for Tokyo, living day by day, because the calendars are all up and down. We must be ready for any changeWe do not know whether the events predicted in the approach will unfold as we expect."
What Olympics do you imagine?
Of great surprises, for several reasons. We all arrive in the sign of discontinuity in work, with the difficulty of finding, maintaining and keeping under control the level of performance.
Did the year's delay play into our hands?
He implemented the group, opening the door to girls who have grown upThe team group has certainly benefited from it. And there's still more to come. Letizia Paternoster.
Is Montichiari becoming more of a point of reference than ever?
Absolutely, like point to converge on if road activity were to suffer any stopsAnd it will be like this from 2022 onwards, because apart from the foreseeable gap that there will be from the track, Olympic qualifications will begin at the end of the year, so the group will reunite.
Is the situation different on the road to Tokyo?
We have two already established athletes who have won at the highest level. I would say that We have almost equal chances on the road and on the track because on the track we will find the strongest at the peak of their careers, so they will go very fast. Returning to the road bikes, I speak of Elisa Longo Borghini and Martha Bastianelli, if she will be at the level of 2018-19 where she could easily be compared to Marianne Vos.
Does the WorldTour make your role as national team coach more complicated?
Let's say the first difference is take note of the non-homogeneous activity between squadrons and professional teams, as among men. I'm happy, however, because finally the girls have a chance at a career. As the national team coach, I'm convinced that in the last two years a couple of collegiate retreat blocks have been missing. The one at the beginning of the year or to inspect the world championship route. I am moments that help to create a group and establish team hierarchiesIf you arrive to gather them only at the last minute, the arrival order dictates, you will have selection difficulties and above all prevent the strongest from planning the season based on the appointment.
What is your relationship with the team coaches?
First I discuss the goal with the athlete, then I share it with the team, managers, sports directors, and trainers.
So even though they are professionals, the contact continues?
Always, them they expect ongoing contact And it's right that it exists. It's a mutual interest. Comparing helps to understand choicesEvery time I talk about call-ups with Longo Borghini, for example, I ask her: "When did I leave you out?" And she points her finger and replies: "In London!" They know they can be excluded, but they know it's a fair game..
Do the military help?
They contribute to giving importance to the blue jersey. And in the long run, despite earnings growing, They allow girls to have an income that is difficult to give up.
Will the World Cup come later or will it remain the focus?
The World Cup among women it still remains the most important race, the one that gives value to your career. And this year there will be a great challenge in Belgium. It's too early to talk about it, but that too will need to be addressed soon.
