If on one side the European Cyclocross Championships in Namur had left excellent impressions for the Italian team, with the pearl of the silver of the Crows, on the other hand, some reflections on what didn't work filled the days of the coach Daniele PunctualThe juniors' debacle was a surprise, considering the expectations and values highlighted by the boys at the beginning of the season, but also confirmation that something is wrong and Pontoni had reported it even before the Europeans.
It's therefore important to analyze the situation at a time of relative stagnation. The national team was not present at the World Cup in Overijse; the coach followed up on his reflections while waiting to revise the composition of the Italian team for the upcoming events.
"We need to look at what happened with external eyes," says the Friulian, "without being too tied to the contingencies of the race. So I understand that the responsibility is also ours, I mean our generation's and I include myself first, technicians, parents. We are used to giving everything to our children, without leaving them the freedom to do things on their own, perhaps even making mistakes."
Is this a thought related only to sports activities?
No, it concerns that but it goes beyond that, it is the fruit of our entire society. We technicians prepare everything down to the smallest detail just like a parent does, but in certain cases we have to take a step back., leaving the kids free to do what they want, to face situations with their own input, to be more self-sufficient. Our kids are used to this situation and therefore lack the "hunger" needed to emerge.
In the recent past, you have often been strict with the kids…
Mine has always been constructive criticism, aimed at understanding what works and what doesn't. Let me be clear: I'm the first person responsible if a result doesn't arrive, because it means something didn't work. Before the European Championships I had realised that something was wrong and I had pointed it out, even forcefully, but evidently it wasn't enough. During the retreat in Spain I saw committed, motivated, hungry boys, but then everything changed.I heard the conversations that were being held in the days leading up to Tabor and I noticed that the kids no longer had their feet firmly planted on the ground.
What happened in the Czech Republic and then in Namur?
The mistake was always the same: we had planned to start in front, but to do that you also have to be “bad”, make yourself respected, and always work hard within the rules. Instead the start was slow, except for Scappini who then got lostNow everything is reset: I'll bring a large number of players to the training camp in Jesolo, we'll see if things change. What's certain is that no one is sure of their place.
Let's take a step back to Pontoni the rider. At their age, you were a boy whose talent went hand in hand with an exuberant, often unconventional, and difficult-to-manage personality. If you had "that" Pontoni in your group, what would you say?
Maybe I had some… I would be very happy to find a young man with character, even to stand up to me in discussions, in expressing his opinion. I've always believed that even arguments strengthen relationships. I want to see competitive anger come out, to put something of yourself into the race, that's why they say they're used to it too much. I've always told the guys that they have to behave impeccably outside of the race because they represent Italy. During the race, they have to always stay within the rules, but they also have to make sure they're respected. To make history you have to make it and you do it with results, not with Instagram…
One person who seemed to follow in your footsteps a bit is Scappini, speaking to us he comes across as very self-confident, almost a braggart…
It's true, but something has changed over the last year. Before he would get into problems, today the slightest setback deflates him a bit, he loses that characteristic that for me was a quality.Races aren't won just when you're in top form, you also have to show your opponent that you're ready to fight, and show yourself to be strong regardless.
The situation among peers is more flourishing…
Undoubtedly and not only because we have two stars like Corvi, who is tenacious, silent but with the character of a lioness in competition and the Venturelli, who has enormous talent and who always wants to be a 10, in sports as well as at school, when sometimes even a 6 or 7 is enough. A beautiful generation is growing up and we will have to be good at nurturing it properly. The boys… Well, they will remain a worry for me that I will carry with me until the end of the season., I have to be good at finding the way to let them express their potential.
