ZURICH (Switzerland) – Francesco De Gregori drew Italy a more effective portrait than many editorials, articles and insightsIt speaks of an Italy robbed and struck at the heart. Murdered by newspapers and concrete. The forgotten Italy and the Italy to be forgotten. The Italy half duty and half fortune. And also the Italy with the flags and naked as ever. The Italy with its eyes open in the sad night, but resisting. Walking towards the first express train of the day before leaving Switzerland, which this morning woke up again to wet roads, we think that the same verses could also describe the Italy of the pedal, the one seen yesterday and more generally in the World Championships in Zurich.
Italy robbed of its talents in the name of money. Who pays for the mistakes of the past and the information campaigns that still make it a weak pointItaly relies on the creativity of a few, often covering up its inability to plan for the future. Italy with flags when it's convenient and with social media when victory eludes it.And yet, Italy resists, because every time we see an Italian team in blue—a nation of fans, perhaps not athletes—we're incapable of not cheering.
Blackout at minus 65
Yesterday's World Cup photographed a way of being and a series of explanations that are not enough to explain why our people disappeared from the race in the last 65 kilometersMaybe the legs were missing, as Bennati saidPerhaps clarity was lacking, as becomes increasingly apparent as we think about it. But perhaps anger was also lacking.
The goal was to run in front, stay focused to avoid chasing. When Pogacar attacked, the only one to notice it was Bagioli, who è left following instinct, without realizing that they were heading towards a certain endDo we blame him? Andrea is coming from a difficult period and having the instinct to respond to that attack was the signal he perhaps needed. Although probably, as many have told him, it was objectively a suicidal move.
You can't point too much finger at Tiberi, brought to gain experience and not miracles. Clearly the expectations were at least as high as his gap at the finish line, but the first world championship and the second road race of the season These are morsels to be chewed carefully. Bennati brought it also in sight of the neighbor World Cup in Rwanda which will call the men of the Giri into the openAntonio himself admitted that the Bahrain Victorious He wants to make him a stage racer, but why exclude him from the classics a priori?
The head and legs
Mathieu Van der Poel used his headAnd beyond thinking that Pogacar was committing suicide, he thought it best not to follow him. So as not to end up like him, out of the game or more generally so as not to burn his chances of winning a medal on a course that seemed to exclude him from any contention. The Dutchman came to the World Championships with a clear goal: to win a medal. He knew he wouldn't win, but that a medal would have been the incentive to prepare and grit one's teeth. What was the goal of the Azzurri in Zurich?
Bennati spoke about the willingness to run a dignified race out of respect for the fans and Italy. And then one wonders if it would not have been wiser to let the king of the world go, granting others the honor of chasing him and trying to stay in the small group that fought for medals behind himBut you can do this if you're really ahead, focused, and ready to take action. If you can make decisions without being told,Because in a race without a radio, you can't wait a lap to get to the box and get directions. In some ways, it really felt like watching the junior race at the European Championships in Hasselt, at the end of which the city Salvoldi exploded condemning their typically Italian wait-and-see approach.
Aleotti's lesson
One might say, looking for an easy alibi, that Ours are so unaccustomed to running as leaders that the first time they can, they don't know how to do it.. It could be a sustainable thesis, even if the story of riders who, in the rare occasions of freedom, have left their markWhich doesn't necessarily mean winning, but rather racing aggressively, making your presence felt.
We feel like giving an example of the only rider left out of the Italian selection. It doesn't necessarily mean he would have done better, the ending wouldn't have changed, but maybe he would have tried. We're talking about Giovanni AleottiRed Bull-Bora took him to make him a leader, but waiting for him to grow up, he placed him next to the captains. His Tour next to Martinez and the Vuelta alongside Roglic were ones to be framed. And yet in one of the few races where he had freedom, the Tour of Slovenia, the Emilian wonIf you want space, you have to take it when it's given to you. Otherwise, someone else will.
An outpouring of grit
This didn't happen yesterday. Ciccone's attempts were appreciable (although belated), who perhaps would have had the legs to stay in that famous group behind the uncatchable Slovenian. On such a fast and tough course, where no one has ever managed to earn more than a few pennies, the 45 seconds of his lead were as heavy as minutes in spades.
We're leaving Zurich with eyes full of Pogacar and with the anguish for the death of Muriel Furrer. With the time trial medals. The amazing gold of Lorenzo Finn and the indomitable bronze of Elisa Longo Borghini. With the U23s' lapses reminiscent of those of the pros. And with the beautiful victories and medals of the Para-cycling. And perhaps it would be appropriate to suggest that the Federation organize a retreat that brings together cyclists, paracyclists and handbikersPerhaps discussing, listening, and understanding could help bring out the grit that some may have lacked yesterday. Because we're certain of this: our Italy is worth more than this.
