Half an hour before the Italian championship kicked off, coach Bennati climbed into the Viviani family's camper van, where Elia, Ganna, Puccio, and Moscon were preparing, as a guest. It's unknown what he said: he asked Cioni for permission to get in, then closed the door behind him. The time for the Olympic call-ups is coming, he probably had a few more dots to connect.
Pogacar and his 9.663 points are unreachable, but scrolling down the UCI rankings, the first Italian is Jonathan Milan at 1.941 and immediately after arrives Ganna, with 1.749. Bennati cannot call the two of them up for the Olympics, because they will only compete in track, to which Ganna will add time trials. The third Italian in the world rankings is Luca Mozzato, 1.722 points, then there is Bettiol at 1.551,7. If the call-ups were made with the ranking of theUCI and considering that Viviani will race on the road By choice of the FCI and to compete in the omnium, Bennati could find himself with the other two names already served up. If everything were that simple, there wouldn't even be a need for a technical commissioner. And that's why on Sunday, after following the Italian race from his motorbike, the Arezzo citizen was thoughtful.. Bettiol's victory It was a huge confirmation, but the Florentine's name was already set in stone.
"Obviously, the result is always a pleasure," Bennati said, "first and foremost for him. But the way he's managed this start to the season, the result of the Italian championship was not decisiveThen there's a whole Tour ahead, so Paris seems like it's there, but the road is still quite long."
The race on the motorbike
The Italian championships would not have been useful to define Bettiol's position, but perhaps someone else could have convinced Bennati to keep the door openThe day of the call-ups will be July 5th, when in Rome each city will reel off the names of the Italians they will bring to the Games. Yet, speaking as external and not very competent observers, the Sesto Fiorentino match did not reveal any additional identities.
«If I had to look at the indications in view of the Olympics – he explained – the path of the tricolour did not even resemble the one in ParisAlberto (Bettiol, ed.) is a more versatile rider than Mozzato, who, however, on a course like this one in Sesto Fiorentino, would struggle even with the conditions of the Flanders. A confirmation could have come from Trentin, who in any case went strongI've never seen Bagioli, on the other hand. Vendrame did well, he was always in the running. The Bardians have always been very present, Zoccarato had a great race and Fiorelli was there at the endThey are the usual Italian league players. And then there's Route... ".
A third consecutive second place could prove annoying…
He always finishes second, but he's a rider who always believes in himself. Unfortunately, we can't consider him a winner, but he's still there. He's not afraid to attack from afar, he's such a riderHe rode both World Championships with me, so he's a rider who can be a key player within a team. Lorenzo has the ability to open the race from afar, he is a modern rider.
Are you waiting for a flash of inspiration from the Tour to choose the elusive third man, or do you already have a name in mind?
I already have it, but now I want to take 3-4 days to think about everythingI don't think I can even wait for the first week of the Tour, because we have to announce the names on July 5th. I could watch the first stages, but that wouldn't mean much. The idea at this point is to choose the third one this week.
The appointment is for July 5th at 11am in the CONI Council Room. In the presence of Malagò, Pancalli and Dagnoni, presidents respectively of the Olympic Committee, the Paralympic Committee and the Federcycling, the names of the Azzurri who will leave for Paris will be announced. The tricolor jersey was presented in Naples during the Giro d'Italia, all that remains is to know the names of the athletes who will wear it.
