MONTICHIARI – "I was hoping to arrive at the World Track Championships with a little more confidence. These aren't easy days to make the right choices." When yesterday Marco Villa he packed his suitcase for Glasgow and put a good dose of hope in it. Speaking to the track manager the day before leaving for Scotland (the Azzurri arrived yesterday evening) we noticed an understandable tension for a combination of reasons.
The eve of this world championship – which is worth the Olympic pass for Paris 2024 and much more – it seems more heartfelt than the othersIn Glasgow, the Italian quartet (which will effectively determine the Olympic selections, as only five athletes can be brought for the three scheduled events) wants to return to gold with the men's event and confirm it with the women's event. Taking all the other disciplines into consideration, it's therefore natural that they want to hold a great World Championship. However, we are certain that, Knowing Villa himself, as always he will find the most suitable solution together with his staffAnd the chat with him begins as his list of players arrives. agree, Galli, Ganna, Lamon, Milan, Moro, Scartezzini and Viviani For the men. Alzini, Balsamo, Barbieri, agree, Guazzini, Martina Fidanza, Paternoster e Zanardi for women
Marco, how did the final approach go?
Honestly, I have to say I'm a bit taken aback. I've always felt the World Championships coming up, and what starts tomorrow (the track program runs until August 9th, ed.) makes no difference because I still believe so strongly in the group. I'm just saying I wish I had more time to do and watch more training sessions with my boysThis year I never had all the athletes available before the events. They all arrived staggered and we had to make a virtue of necessity.It went better with men, but today, for example, I wouldn't know who to choose for the various disciplines, especially for women. I'm not crying, let's be clear, I've never done it, but I say that working like this is more complicated.
Is it the calendar overlap that's to blame?
Of course, having them so full doesn't help. They become a problem, and I've had this more with girls. The right system hasn't been found yet with their group.Perhaps the Women's cycling's WorldTour has disoriented the entire movement and consequently our athletes too. Matching the track and the road was very difficult for us.Sometimes I felt like if I hadn't called them, they wouldn't have come to the dance floor. But the girls know I'm always there. I wish that when they have 4-5 days of rest at home, they would do at least one in Montichiari.
Is it a question of method to be absorbed?
I would say so. The example of men is there, teaching how to do things. I repeat, perhaps with women there was less time to learn the system, But we're all professionals. We don't need to be prompted. There is a goal to reach like the Olympics and that must be a stimulus for everyoneIf everything goes well in Glasgow, it will mean that it will be a starting point for Paris, otherwise it will be a further incentive to work even more productively.
Are you worried you might be left out of Paris with the girls?
I'm not worried about not going to the Olympics with them because, I repeat, I believe in this groupI believe in everyone, men and women. Now My main thought is which female quartet to field Because we haven't done a proper test. I have my own idea, as always, but I would have preferred confirmation. Unfortunately, even the Italian track championships had a poor turnout.They put them between the Italian road races and the Giro Donne, many girls couldn't be there. But I also thank those who organized them, because maybe they wouldn't have even been there. In general, there are many problems that we are trying to solve.
So, is it a question of those famous choices? With your work over the years, you've demonstrated credibility, if you'll pardon the pun...
But I don't want to work with credit (smiles, ed.). I always work to make the best decisions possible with everyone, staff and riders.This time, the lack of time is affecting us and is giving me some additional thoughts. The only silver lining, if we can say so, is that this August World Cup is a dress rehearsal for Paris.. So we know how we will have to organize ourselves for next year.
Besides your staff, could the athletes also help coach Marco Villa in choosing them or not?
We've always had a dialogue; for me, it's the foundation. There's always a lot of transparency, and I know I can count on them. I usually put the times and my feelings on the table, and they confirm or deny these impressions.This time, there's little to offer, either on my part or on theirs. We'll build on what we have.
Will you be using all new materials in Glasgow?
We need to present them, but above all we need to use them to test them in preparation for Paris. We have new frames, handlebars, wheels and other materials, but it is not a given that all added together they will make us go fasterBut we'll see which combinations to adopt. These are also part of the choices we're talking about. And in this case too I have my own ideas in my head. Let's hope everything goes well.
