LONDON – The smiling expression that Emma Finucane, reigning world speed champion, addresses Miriam Vece It means a nice boost of confidence for her. The twenty-year-old Welshwoman recently won the first round after struggling to overcome the Italian in the battery that also saw them facing the Dutch Ruby Huisman.
In the pit area of the Lee Valley Velopark we witness a continuous pilgrimage of athletes who go up and down the track for the various tests of the UCI Track Champions LeagueThe atmosphere is that of a major event, which will conclude this evening. Vece is at his third participation in three editions and knows the event organized by Warner Bros Discovery wellHe's currently fighting for the top 10, but he knows what to draw from it. He talks about it with Daniele Napolitano, her national teammate who came to the British capital to support her, as well as to observe the opponents. Speaking with Miriam about the 2024 that awaits her, we better understood the value of that initial gaze.
We can consider you a Champions League veteran. What differences have you noticed in your performances from 2021 to now?
In the first edition I was more lucky. I was coming from the World Championships in Roubaix where I had done well and I had continued to train. Instead, this year and last year I was coming straight from the off-season. I came here to do some leg work, run and see the level that is there.Of course, I'm happy to have received the invitation; it's always a great event. I'm having fun and I've achieved some results.
Is the first sprint with Finucane one of these?
I'd say so, considering my current form. I was basically back on track in Mallorca. After the World Cup, I wasn't feeling very well. I had dental problems, then I had nose surgery.I started working out again in the gym and on the road in Salerno, my parents' hometown. We only started training again in Montichiari in late October. A little while ago, I made Emma sweat, as she had launched a very long sprint. However, I am satisfied in a certain sense because here, considering the nice prize money up for grabs, no one lies and everyone goes strong..
A good thing and a bad thing about the Champions League?
The bad thing, so to speak, or at least tiring, is the travelling. You arrive the day before the race, you have to assemble the bike, you race on Saturday, you disassemble the bike and put it back in the box to shipIt gets a little stressful to rush everything like that. I think about it every time, but then I think that if they hadn't invited me, I would have been disappointed (she says smiling, ed.). The nice thing is that you run without pressure, at least for me. I do my tests trying to learn a bit of technique and tactics.. And another positive aspect is that I can represent Italy, this year together with Francesca (Equatorial, editor's note).
Can the Champions League provide guidance for other international competitions?
Yes and no. I don't see Finucane itself performing as well ase at the World CupI'm sure, however, that in January, when the European Championships take place, she'll be at her best. On the other hand, Propster (European champion in the team sprint and U23 sprint, ed.), who isn't usually a regular on the German national team, where the level is very high, was a leader in the first two events here at the Champions League. Let's say you can see where the opponents are at, but it's not too reliable.Now, from one week to the next, many things change. For example, In Berlin I reached the final in the keirin, in Paris last week it was a disaster.Then the training sessions you do count, especially for me with Quaranta.
What did Ivan tell you about this Champions League?
Even though he thinks I'm an experienced girl, he always has something to say (smiles, ed.). He always tells me that I still have to learn to run, mostly because I underestimate myself so much.During a race, I always feel like I can't do anything, but Ivan keeps telling me I have the legs and that I'm going faster than many of the others ahead of me. This is a negative thing for what I do. So when we analyze the races at home, there's always something to discuss. (and smiles again, ed.).
In view of the European Championships and therefore the Olympics, are you working to bridge this psychological gap?
Yes, absolutely, we are already doing that. Being in the group of guys helps me a lot. They push me and they say so with good reason, since I train with them.I hope to qualify for Paris…
Last summer Quaranta took it almost for granted.
I have one foot in Paris, and the other in Italy. At the moment I am well within the ranking to go there, both in the sprint and in the keirin, but for the qualification I still need four steps.I want to get off to a good start in the European Championships and then earn the necessary points in the other three Nations Cup events. I should do terribly, and the teams behind me should win by a landslide. Anything can happen. Until I get it, I don't believe it. Surely if I were to have good times, then that famous psychological gap would also reduce and it would be a little easier to prepare.
In Paris, you could make history as the first Italian woman in sprint racing. When will Miriam Vece start preparing for her intense 2024 season?
Once the Champions League is over, I'll take a week off in agreement with Quaranta. Then from the end of November we get back to itFor the European Championships, they say we might even create a team sprint. Ivan would like to bring some young riders, but we'll see. In fact, going to the Olympics would already be a huge achievement, a real source of pride for me, given that no Italian athlete has ever done it before me.In any case, I'll get there calmly. When we see that Italy has qualified, then Ivan and I will start working towards the podium, even though we know it won't be easy at all. However In Tokyo Kelsey Mitchell won the sprint and was the last to arrive. So never say never.
