In the young group of Italian sprinters that we were talking about in the last few days with Forty and this morning with Diego Bragato, those who convey more experience are Matteo Bianchi and Daniele Napolitano, although the first is 21 years old and the second just 19. Napolitano is from Turin and the Francone velodrome has always been his playground, with the support of Dario Zampieri, Italian keirin champion in 2017 and now a tattoo artist. He designed the lightning bolt on his left calf, while It was the Ceci family team that raised its technical level, in that foggy period when sprinters were at risk of extinction.
«Three years ago – says Napolitano – there were only Matteo Bianchi and I, so there wasn't much desire to achieve results because we were alone in two different categories. It was more difficult. Now that a group has been formed, we're here and others will join. There is more motivation, there is competition in training and there is a great desire to do well., because there are six of us who have shown that we are going strong."
In the same way that Bianchi and Predomo run with the Campana Imballaggi-Geo&Tex Trentino, Napolitano has been registered with the club since 2022 Team Colpack-Ballan, who had previously launched Filippo Ganna's career and then took charge of the endurance group that included Consonni and Lamon. Today, there are only two specialists left: Davide Boscaro, which runs in the continental, while Napolitano is in the U23 team.
Like Bianchi, had you also thought about going to Switzerland?
I had asked, I had informed myself, but above all because During the winter, Montichiari is closed almost every year for works. So I wanted to have another place to go to train. I would have gone on my own, paying for everything out of my own pocket.
What happened then?
While I was there thinking about it, Luckily Ivan Quaranta arrived and offered us all to work together, so I preferred to follow him rather than take advice from someone else, and then you never know how it will end.
And suddenly speed was reborn…
For me, the fast sector has always been very beautiful to see and beautiful to experience. Watching other people's races has always fascinated me.. And now, having a group of all ages, from Stefano Moro which is elite to first year juniors, there are the still raw kids who have to learn and the older ones who can teach them something. However, it's adding something that the coach doesn't know: an athlete who runs a lot during the year, for example, can teach you a few tricks.
How long does it take to build up those 10 seconds of racing?
So much! I'm passing by I spend a lot of time in the gym, I'm there for three and a half hoursI like to sit there and get a good load. And then we do too. We do our 80-90 kilometers with various jobs. While on the track we do 6-7 hour days each time.You work hard until you drop a tenth, until you reach the qualifying times. Many think that behind a 9-10 second sprint there is only testing on the track, but instead it is much more complex than it seems. Because you push your body to the limit for those 10 seconds and you have to be at your peak condition because you don't have time to think and manage yourself. In those 10 seconds you have to be at your best, give it your all and waste nothing.
Climbers are worried about weight…
We, unlike a road racer who perhaps does 5-6 hour rides, do a lot of shorter dry runs on the track, so obviously we have to be very careful about our dietWe eat many more meals a day than a road worker does. The road racer runs two hours longer and loses some fat massWe have these jobs, then we take a 30-40 minute break, then we get back on the track. You don't really have time to burn fat, so it's very important to eat well.You have to get there when you need it, because you have to do race practice or you have to run, and your body has energy to spare.
Another way of eating?
Yup, we eat a lot of proteinI personally eat not very abundant dishes, however I eat several times a day. I have breakfast, then a snack between breakfast and lunch, lunch, a snack, and dinner. On average, they eat 5-6 meals a day, but there are those who eat even more.Because you always need to keep your body energized.
