The one obtained in Cantù on April 10th was, for Federica Venturelli (top, photo Ossola), a victory with a special flavor. Not only the first of this season on the road, the first since his return from cyclocross and the unfortunate outcome of the world championships, where he finished just short of the podium, but above all the first success in an open race, which for a girl who is still a junior always has a special flavourSo motivating that after just six days the victory in Corridonia also arrived.
During her still short career, Federica has had many victorious experiences, considering that since she was a student she had been indicated as a predestined one, an example of the multidisciplinary nature that distinguishes the new generations. But Cantù's victory was a special one, giving her an extra boost towards the season's major events.
"It was a 97-kilometer race," the eighteen-year-old from Cremona explains, "with a lot of climbing in the last two laps. I was really looking forward to it, so on Friday I went on a reconnaissance tour to study the key points of the course and realized there wouldn't be a sprint finish. There was a lot of selection right from the start, so much so that even before half the race I joined the breakaway that would have been decisive.There were 4 of us, then there were 3 of us left, and in the end I won."
Why was this success so important?
The end of the winter season was not easy, I had health problems that slowed me down a bit in my preparationThis was an important test, precisely because I wasn't yet in top form when I approached it.
The fact that they won against the older ones?
It's something new, it represents an important step towards the future because they will be my main rivals in the Italian arena. Now, however, I'm returning to my category in the international arena, with the EPZ Omloop van Borsele in Holland next weekend, consisting of a prologue and two flat stages. These are not routes that are really suitable for me, but the wind could mess things up and since it is an international race I want to do well.Practically all the top teams will be there. It will also help to get an idea ahead of the title races.
You're now in your second year in the category: what has changed?
A lot and a little at the same time. I've seen that the first year girls are all moderately strong, in fact there are some who stand out like FergusonI know my peers, I notice that the average level is very high. In the meantime I have changed teams and a lot has changed around me.. The Valcar Travel & Service It's very well structured, it really represents a step forward. What hasn't changed is my training, although I plan to gradually increase the loads to get more and more used to what I will face next year.
Don't you feel a little orphaned by your "twin"? Ciabocco?
His company and his competition were stimulating, and in the end we pushed ourselves together towards important results. I can't deny it, he's a bit lacking in category races, but I know we'll meet again often along the roads.I've already noticed that the new recruits are giving me a hard time...
You're known for your various cycling careers, including track cycling. Will you continue competing in velodromes?
Of course, I have no intention of changing, in fact I have already resumed training at the Montichiari velodrome with trips every week. I think that activity is a fundamental aspect of my performance on the road. The problem is the abundance of appointments on the calendar: especially in the coming months, choices will have to be made.
And cyclocross, will it remain too?
Yes, you know I like it a lot, it's the specialty that in some ways I prefer, but we'll have to review something. I think that next season I will only take on targeted appointments to better reconcile activity with preparation for the summer season.
Objectively, speaking specifically about the calendar, what have you focused on?
My dream is to confirm my international successes on the track, retain the European title in both the scratch and quartet and the world title in pursuitIn many ways, winning is wonderful when you do it for the first time, but repeating it is much more difficult and precisely for this reason intriguing.
