If yesterday was Filippo Ganna's day in the time trial today our thoughts go to the Italian road championship. Friuli Venezia Giulia is ready to take on a challenge that promises to be exciting., especially with a route that opens the race to numerous interpretations.
The city manager also supports it Marco Villa, at his first time as an Italian coach in a road championship. It is with him that we analyze the route, from Trieste to Gorizia, also valid for the Italian Regions Cup 2025, new initiative launched by the Professional Cycling League together with the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces, as we had seen for the women's tricolour.
And speaking of Trieste, The change of departure, made official a few days ago from San Vito al Tagliamento to the Friulian capital, took many by surprise. Even the city manager himself was partly in agreement, expecting a different start. But in the end, politicians insisted the Italian from Friuli Venezia Giulia start from its capital, and... well, that's a good thing.
Marco, you've probably seen hundreds of Italian championships, but this is your first one as a city rider on the road. How are you experiencing it?
I experienced it a few weeks ago, when they called me to see the route. I'll look at it with different eyes on Sunday. I've always followed closely even before: many of the athletes I had on the track came from here. We know how to manage our emotions...
Did you design the route yourself or did you find it already prepared?
They contacted me, and I came to see it. I would have taken a look anyway. There's a competition, and whoever wins also submits the route. In my opinion, it's a beautiful journey, open to many interpretations: everyone can try to put something of their own into it. There's flat ground, there's climbing… The decision on the final laps was at stake. They asked me for my opinion: not so much on the route, but whether to do it in three or four laps.
And you chose for the three laps, right?
Yes, because in my opinion it's more balanced for everyone. It must also be considered that many riders are without a team or with few domestiques because they ride for foreign teams. Those who start alone are already handicapped. A course that is too difficult would have excluded some sprinters who are perhaps thinking of Tour de FranceI suggested three laps instead of four and my opinion was accepted. They know the organizational difficulties better. I found an interesting circuit: there's a climb with a slope that can also stimulate climbers. But at the same time a sprinter with good legs can try to hold until the end.
The Italian flag once mirrored the World Cup. This year, the World Cup in Rwanda will be tough, while Gorizia is faster...
I remember the Trittico as a qualification for the World Championships, but the Italian championship is three months before the World Championships. With a 5.500-meter course like the one in Rwanda, I don't know how many would have started on Sunday. Then there are the team dynamics: some are more organized, others less so. It's difficult to imagine a tricolor tailored to the World Championships. We have so many races to evaluate the characteristics of the athletes who will compete in the World Championships.
Clear…
Then, going back to the World Championships, I already have an idea of the characteristics needed for Rwanda. After September, we'll evaluate their condition. If an athlete has done the Giro and the Tour and arrives feeling tired, I have to change. I have an expanded roster, I've already spoken to the teams, the directors, the trainers. My hope is to have a good September leading up to the World Championships, without compromising the teams' needs. If we can build a shared path, it's already a way to facilitate decisions. I repeat, a tricolor modeled after the World Championships would have excluded too broad a category of athletes.
You can't name names, but what is the right feature for this track?
The 230 kilometers are already selective. The climb ends 9-10 kilometers from the finish, and can be the ideal springboard for a climber. But even a fit sprinter, perhaps with an organized team or by finding allies, can close in on the attackers. The descent and subsequent kilometers can help close the gap. A stamina-driven sprinter with good form can even compete in a tight sprint.
Is the descent technical?
There are some challenging curves, but the road is wide and the asphalt is good. A downhill skier can make the difference. Even a good climber can avoid losing anything. And a skilled sprinter can come back.
You often talked about teams: teams like VF Group-Bardiani e Polti-Kometa Many will run. Will the team count here too?
Yes, the team can also make a difference. VF Group and Polti invest heavily in Italian cycling, and it's right that they have opportunities like this. They may lack individuality, but they can make up for it with teamwork. A championship open to many riders and teams who invest is something I don't mind at all.
The time trials were run in the heat: will this also affect the road race?
I think cyclists are used to it. Heat is part of the tricolor, it always has been. Athletes now know how to run in any condition, with the right precautions. As a national team, we are making two flagships available for those who don't have one. Scirea and I will lead them. It's a way to ensure no one is left without support.
