Marco Villa has called up 21 athletes (8 girls and 13 boys) for the upcoming European Championships Munich. The national track team he has led for years now presents itself more than ever with the strength of the group and not of its stars.
The Italian men and women are coming off strong showings at the World Cup, the Mediterranean Games, and the European Youth Championships. And this is where we need to start again, observe, experiment, and focus, starting with this continental event.
Meanwhile, while we write (and you read) Villa's group is testing on the velodrome set up at the Munich fair.
How do we get there?
True, and we said it at the beginning, some of the heavyweights are missing. From Filippo Gana ed Elisa Balsamo, a bit of the captains of men and women.
«We arrive at this continental appointment – says Villa – with a good group that has shown good things in the youth championships and with an experienced group that performed well in Cali, in the Cup. I therefore say that we are in good shape and can put in some good performances."
«True, three out of four Olympic champions are missing (speaking of men, ed.) and that's not a small thing but maybe I can catch up Simone Consonni. He had commitments with his team, but it seems he got the green light. For the rest, the year after the Olympics is a bit like this: you do tests, you experiment. We'll also see the other national teams."
When Villa says he will also look at other national teams, it's to understand if they too will truly be in Italy's position. He wants to understand how they are doing, whether they too are experiencing a generational change, and how they are preparing for the two-year Olympic period.
«I'd rather watch these things than share problems! We have the rotation and it's good. We won the quartet at the European Under-23 Championships, for example."
First the group
Commitments with their respective teams, various injuries, extremely tight schedules… these are issues that affect others too, and putting all the pieces together isn't easy. This is why the topic of group becomes even more important. And Villa uses this word, precisely "group," often.
A good group of young people, a good group of experts, a certain interchangeability…
«agree – explains Villa – If he were to be there, he would be in the Omnium, which is a little closer to the road, and not in the quartet, even though he is an Olympian. This is because you have to prepare a quartet and it requires a certain amount of work. He, on the other hand, did the Giro, then stopped and did something else (and he didn't do very well, we might add, ed.) and came back to Poland. I'd be happy if he were there."
Madison not by chance
And the same thing, group and interchangeability, also concerns Ganna. Even if Pippo is absent. Having done the Madison with Michele Scartezzini in Fiorenzuola it has its own reason to exist.
«From that test – says the coach – I take away the fact that the training sessions done almost as a joke in Montichiari were not in vain, that Pippo didn't pose a threat on the track and showed some good performances. His legs were unquestionable, so much so that his clear superiority was evident in the finale. Once the technique is perfected, it will be able to do well."
«We didn't do this test just for fun, but because Paris 2024 the rules will be even more strictI will no longer be able to bring five athletes plus one, but four plus one, so it goes without saying that whoever makes the quartet must also be able to do other specialties. Two can do the Madison and one the omnium."
Planet Women's cycling
In this regard, too, Villa is starting from the group. Here too, there's change, both in terms of the "long bench" and generational.
«In the Cup – says Villa – the girls showed themselves to be competitive and the youngsters also did well. For me it's important to know them, for them it's important to gain experience. It's not like with the boys, some of whom I've had with me since they were juniors and I know them better technically."
«I don't have the Balsamo and I'm sorry that it isn't there Chiara Consonni. Unfortunately, the injury (in Fiorenzuola, ed.) prevents her from competing in both track and road races. And it's a shame because she, like the others, is an important member of the group.
«I want to get it back for the World Cup, even if for the World Cup I will be able to bring fewer girls and I will have to make some choices".
At full speed
Finally, with the city, we talk about speed. For the first time in years, we have a chance to achieve good results in such an important event.
More than a little is moving. It has moved. Ivan Quaranta, to whom Villa gave the keys to this sector, is working hard.
«For us – explains Villa – in this sector (and at this stage, ed.) recruitment and scouting are important. We need to look elsewhere, and not just in cycling. Unfortunately, we still have the mentality that the sprinter here has to be the one who wins the Sanremo. and so from a young age, if he shows certain characteristics, he is made to work in that direction. But in reality a sprinter can also do something else. You can also grow up with the concept of a sprinter at Maspes, just to make a nostalgic comparison».
And the example of Matthew Tugnolo, recruited by BMX fits like a glove.
"It's not just BMX, we need to look elsewhere too. In schools, we need to find people with a certain physique and certain strength qualities. Previously we had the Study Center, now the Performance Sector, but perhaps you could ask CONI itself. For example, if there's a sprinter in track and field who isn't quite making it, but has passion and the desire to try..., you can test it. A 360-degree recruitment".
