When you come home with two world silvers you should be satisfied, yet in Jonathan's voice Milan, heading towards the long-awaited and deserved holidays, you always notice that slight ripple. That a small hint of regret that is part of the growth of an athlete who aims as high as possible and which has a boundless horizon before it.
In the national media, but especially on social media where there has been much debate about the Azzurri's results in France, a very interesting theme has emerged: a Milan so strong on the road and on the track, equipped with absolute power to the point of being chosen to launch the quartet but also capable of great sprints (the Cro Race docet with two stage victories) Could he also emerge in other specialties besides pursuit?
We discussed the issue with the person directly involved, but the answers were complicated, as he had anticipated Villa we are talking about a rider with absolutely no experience in the sector and this is a factor to consider, at least when the Olympic appointment is already imminent being less than two years away.
With a cool head, how do you judge your World Cup?
I can't help but be happy, You don't get two podiums every day, but it's clear that when you get there you always want more.. It's a shame to have lost the gold in the quartet because we were the defending champions, but we have shown that we are still on the ball and this will also be true for the next few years. In the individual pursuit, when you lose in the final, you always feel like you're missing something, but I went against a huge champion like Filippo...
There's been a lot of talk about what Milan would do in disciplines other than pursuit...
I read the social media too, I understand what the fans would like, but if you ask me if I would take them on, the answer is a resounding "no." I did try something, but only when I was a beginner and a student; too much time has passed and the level is too different. I have no experience, I really wouldn't know how to handle it. I've always been tied to the chase and I prefer to do what I do best.It would be nice to try something new, but such important specialties are not invented.
Villa also highlighted this aspect, understanding your increasing road racing commitments with Bahrain Victorious. But let's talk on a more utopian level: what are the disciplines outside of pursuit where you think you could excel?
That's a good question, but it's really hard for me to judge without having raced them. I can say as a layman that I would like to try them all, but I really know too little about them.When I started playing the track seriously, I immediately dedicated myself to the quartet and it was a long journey to understand all the mechanisms.
Many are convinced that you could do well…
Who knows, there's a huge maybe behind it. Honestly, considering what I'm already facing, the difficulties of reconciling two disciplines, I don't know when it would be a good idea to do so. It would take too long to learn, let's not forget that the Olympics are only a year and a half awayMaybe for the next Olympic cycle… But this isn't the time to talk about it.
Speaking as a privileged observer on the track, what is the specialty you like the most?
By eye I really like the points race, I would also like to try it sometime by building many sprints, each one different from the other also keeping in mind that you have to earn spins to stand out, but then maybe doing it I wouldn't like it so much anymore. Scratch is actually the discipline that comes closest to the roadI've never tried the Madison, but it fascinates me. I know it's very difficult technically, requiring a lot of coordination with your partner, because one switch at the wrong time could ruin everything. Every specialty is different, each has its own unique qualities.
To learn a solution could be to take part in some 6 Days?
In theory, yes, especially for those specialties in the Olympic program. There wouldn't be much pressure to get results and it could therefore be used for studying, but there are some difficulties.. First of all, it would take away space from winter preparation, which is known to be the basis of the entire road season. Then nIt's not like I could go to 6 Days like that, out of the blueI should still have some time to prepare them, as there's a lot of work involved. A couple would be a good training ground, but it's not that simple.
At least for now you're a spectator: are these specialties that excite you?
Of course, when there's an Italian in the race. I'm going crazy, I'm cheering like crazyIf an Italian wins, a fellow adventurer, I'm very happy, that's just how I am. Maybe we'll talk about this again in some time., for now I prefer to continue on the "old road"...
