As a rider he won the World Championships and the Olympics, then as a coach he led the Azzurri to the same goals. So when we found ourselves at to think about the next challenges of Glasgow, which cross dangerously between road and track, the idea of consulting Paolo Bettini was one of the first. Especially after that il Tour of Italy showed Milan's strength in sprint, on the eve of a World Championship that could theoretically wink at the fast guys. What would you do with someone like Johnny: send him to the track or take him on the road as well?
The discussion is interesting for its many implications, also because there are several high-profile riders who could be called upon for the double commitment. Of course Milan, but also Ganna, Viviani and even ConsonniPrecisely for this reason, we need to start with great concreteness, so that all this doesn't turn into mere barroom chatter.
«The reasoning must be subtle – Bettini says immediately – in the sense that we must start from the probability of a medal. It Milan makes the quartet, even if I don't know the condition of all four of them and that of their opponents, they have amply demonstrated that they can win the World Cup. It's also true that a world track championship, after having taken home an Olympic gold, does not change your life. While I'm honest, a road world championship is a heavy medal. It has its specific weight in terms of sporting merit, but also in terms of bargaining power. In short, It's a job, you get your satisfaction, but then you renegotiate your value based on the results».
At the Olympics, the same athlete has already run on the road and on the track, right?
Exactly. When I was in London as technical commissioner, the federal indications were to privilege multi-discipline and I also deployed Viviani on the roadMaybe that was when he realized he could win on the track; I don't think the road prevented him from winning the omnium medal. Maybe he didn't have the experience to compete for the title yet. In simple terms: there may also be a double commitment, but it always depends on the condition. If one has a stratospheric condition, in the end the 4 kilometers of the pursuit that you go to play on the track are more psychological that it's a matter of energy.
Speaking of Milan, when will something like this happen again?
So we have to make another reasoning and see who we can count on for the road world championshipMilan can be good if they arrive in a sprint, but Are we sure we'll get to Glasgow in a sprint? From experience, I evaluate courses when I see them, and I haven't seen this one. He's certainly shown in sprints that he can beat anyone. Not everyone, actually, because not everyone was there in May. Anyway, It's one of the most important fast wheels out there..
The unknown factor is whether the World Cup will prove to be tougher…
Exactly, in fact I would play it differently, even if I brought Milan, who fits well in a squad of nine riders. I would speak clearly and tell him: «You are a potential medalist on the track with Marco Villa, but I I'll give you the chance to run on the road too, but know that you can't run just to kill the raceThere are other national teams that will do it and we will have to protect the men from the classics. You come and stay in the belly of the group. If nothing happens on the last lap, the team will rally around you and you will sprint. What comes, comes." It could also be the way to make him have a world cup without the pressure and leave him alone with a view to the track.
He certainly wouldn't steal anyone's job.
In my time, there was a problem with whoever they left out, simply because it was going strongThey left Di Luca out and he went strong. Rebellin, same story. They left Petacchi out and he won. Every year it was a given that there were 4-5 or even 6 dissatisfied players who were going strong.Today this problem does not exist.
Are you saying no?
If Bennati were to bring in Milan, would he leave out someone so strong? Who's going to be offended? Anyone who thinks they deserve a place in the world championship must win three races between now and July 20th. true and then he can raise his hand and say: "Here! Milan can go build the track, I'll take care of this!" But in the end, the path is always democratic.
Quote by Alfredo Martini, right?
Once upon a time, when everyone we wondered how Alfredo managed to put so many heads together, he always replied: "But don't worry, weeks before everyone has their expectations. Then, when the World Cup is approaching, the street is democratic and puts everyone in their place". If then the democracy of the street brings you five athletes to high levels, at that point the technical commissioner takes over, who is not a coach, but is much more of a psychologist and selectorIt's up to him to do the subtle work of bringing the team together and making his own choices. However, I don't think that in Italy at the moment there is this type of problem., unfortunately not.
For the same reason and without asking him for the moon, would Ganna be there too?
It could be. Then I tell you that Ganna really has it for me amazed at Sanremo, because not only did he hold the accelerations, but he responded to the accelerations of those who we knew were three notches above the others. Some say he flopped at the Roubaix, but Anyone who runs or has run a bike knows that finishing sixth in Roubaix is not exactly a last-minute thing.So why not throw him in? If the race gets a little tougher, you find yourself in a small group of ten or so with a few minutes' advantage, there are no impossible climbs, just nervous ones... Why not count on him too?
Maybe after the next Olympics, the road will have a different appeal for all of them, don't you think?
I say that Italy has been suffering on the track for years and now it's right to bring home as much as possibleThen the kids grow up and you suddenly become old, so they have to be good at finding the limit. The Olympic quartet must be defended regardlessIf a second medal came, we'd have to take our hats off, even if it wasn't gold. In Italy, you have to compete in disciplines with 18 finals, like swimming or fencing, to win two medals in two consecutive Olympics. But then I think there will be a bit of turnover., so from 2024 I'd say: "You know what? For now, I'll focus exclusively on the road for three years, then we'll see what happens in the Olympic year."
What could happen?
If I qualify in the Olympic year, they qualify me or they fish me out, then If I'm still useful to the cause, maybe I'll get back on the trackBut first I'll dedicate two years to the road without looking back...
