Quaranta: The sprint with Welsford and the European U23 track championship

The weather isn't leaving Northern Italy alone, and neither is Samuel Quaranta's workouts (photo by NB Srl at the top), who has been training extensively on the rollers these days. "I should go out," he says, "but it's raining heavily, and there's no point in taking on all this rain, plus there's a weather alert. On Wednesday, I did an hour and a half of training on the rollers. Medium-high intensity, It was the first day of work after the trip to Hungary with the teamWe came back on Sunday, there was sun and here it's raining, the weather seems to have turned around."

First stage of the Tour of Hungary, a splendid Quaranta beaten in the sprint by only Welsford

Come home

The Tour of Hungary saw the participation of the boys of the MBH Bank-Colpack-Ballan which from this season have a new sponsor (MBH Bank) which is headquartered in Hungary.

“It was a great trip,” the young sprinter continues. “We were all really eager to get going and do well. We ran in what has been our second home since this year, a fun and very stimulating adventure. Sponsors came to greet us, and the fans recognized us. There was a bit of tension among us guys, trying to show MBH Bank that their investment was worth it. Personally, I had the goal of doing well in the first two stages., suitable for sprinters, while for the rest of the race I had to save my skin."

After the arrival, the mood was high, the young man from MBH Ban-Colpack couldn't have done more (photo NB Srl)

And on your debut you almost win…

I played the sprint really well against many strong sprinters, among all Mark Cavendish. It's a shame that in that first sprint he beat me. WelsfordFor a moment, I even believed I could win. I didn't feel any fear toward anyone; I just threw myself into it as if it were an amateur sprint. If you start with the idea that you are already defeated, you end up at the back of the pack., I was good at believing it and finding the hole.

With the feeling that you can win?

I have to admit that when I looked up and I saw the finish line in front of me and I really believed it.Then Welsford was stronger and the credit goes to him, but I have no regrets.

In 2024 he achieved another good placing among the pros: ninth in the first stage of the Giro d'Abruzzo

What did you miss?

In my opinion, the big difference is made by relationships. In the WorldTour (Welsford races for Bora-Hansgrohe, ed.) they can ride the 56 or even 58We amateurs, on the other hand, have 54 and some even 53. I think this is the big step between me and them.

Now you're back racing among the under-23s. What are your goals?

I have a pretty intense block of races, I'll be busy for the next three weeks. On Saturday and Sunday I'll be racing at the Due Giorni Marchigiana, then in Castellucchio and finally in Fiorano, a race for pure sprinters. If I get through these commitments well, I might take part in the Giro Next GenThere are few stages that suit me, just a couple. Sporting directors will have to decide how to set up the team, whether to focus entirely on the standings or not. Kajamini e Novak they are doing very well, so we will seeThe ultimate goal for this first part of the season remains the European U23 track championship.

Participation in the Giro Next Gen It will depend on the team's ambitions, if they will focus everything on Novak (left in the photo) for the championship

Participation in the Giro Next Gen It will depend on whether the team will focus entirely on Novak (left in the photo) for the standings

How your program changes with the Giro Next Gen or less?

Something changes, obviously. If I were to participate in the Corsa Rosa for under 23s I would see a great improvement in my resistance, leaving the specific track work until the continental event. On the contrary, if I were not to participate, I would start thinking about the U23 European Championship. starting now with mini training sessions in MontichiariTwo or three days, four at most.

You're in your final year as an under-23, do you feel like you've grown further?

A lot of holding on to the climbs, that was my goal at the beginning of the year and I'm chasing it. I feel better in that aspect and I'm happy about it, but you don't have to sit backI'm starting to feel good and I need to make the most of the season. It's my last year as an under, So all the races must be faced at their best and with a lot of concentrationEvery race can give me a future and help me go professional.

Samuel Quaranta's first part of the season will end with the European U23 track championship (UEC photo)

You have achieved somewhat encouraging results.

Yes I did well among the professionals too with ninth place at the Giro di Abruzzo in the first stage and then second place at the Tour of HungaryTo get to the big teams, you need to get results, true, but you also need to demonstrate consistency in your performance, and I'm banking on that.