BENIDORM (Spain) – Federica Venturelli continues to dominate the stage. After listening to the interested party directly and the praises of Elisa Longo Borghini, we couldn't help but talk to the one who trains her every day: her coach Dario Giovine.
With the preparer of the UAE ADQ Let's take a technical journey inside Venturelli's engine. A truly important engine. But apparently—and this is the best news—it hasn't stopped growing yet. There's so much potential: for the future, but also in the near future. Not in five or six years: here we can already talk about world time trials and great, indeed, truly great classics.
Dario, first of all, how long have you been following Federica Venturelli?
This will be his third year. He has already spent two seasons in devo and this will be her first WorldTour year, so since she arrived in the team.
So you also followed her when she was doing crosses?
The first year I followed her was the transition year, when she stopped cyclocross. She had already competed in the World Cup, if I remember correctly right here in Benidorm, and had a few outings. However, we were already deciding on the path that would lead her increasingly towards road and track.
These days, there's a lot of talk about its "big engine." Besides the numbers, what tells you that's really the case?
Attitude and approach. When I talk about the engine, I'm not just referring to numbers. Federica's great driving force is also her attitude to work, the precision with which she trains, which then leads to the performances we've seen. She's always been a great professional due to the attention she puts into everything, and this is reflected off the bike as well. For example, she performs extremely well in her studies, as well as in sports. It's his work ethic, as a person, that makes the difference.
Let's get more technical: he's strong on the road and strong on the track in the pursuit, a roughly four-minute effort. How do you train such different qualities?
It is essential to say that there is a great synergy with the technical sector of the national track team. With Diego Bragato I have an excellent relationship and constant communication, which I believe is the foundation of my results. There's clarity about calendars, commitments, recovery phases, and specific training sessions. Sometimes I even personally supervise track training sessions. Then Federica is very professional in providing feedback. What we understood is that we need to interpret the physiological and metabolic demands of the track well without creating unnecessary overlaps.
That?
Avoid repeating on the road the work she's already developed on the track. She's already developed her skills there, so on the road we try to complete her physiological and metabolic profile. We know she's not just a track cyclist or a time trialist. Compared to Bragato, I... I focus more on developing its aerobic characteristics, balancing the work based on what he does on the track and the necessary recoveries.
So what about endurance work?
But that's not all. There are also specific time trial workouts, very close to the threshold. We work on the aerobic and anaerobic thresholds, always after allowing for adequate recovery compared to track workouts, which are extremely demanding. The goal is to avoid duplication.: strength and standing starts are done on the track, there's no point in repeating them two days later on the road.
What does he excel at today: one minute, four minutes, ten minutes?
Federica has a very complete profile. She's very strong in short critical power: the minute and 30-second ranges are excellent. She also has good peak power, thanks to her physical structure. And It's not at all "fixed" at the sprint. At the same time, lactate curve tests reveal a very efficient aerobic profile. This allows it to go fast even in a long breakaway, with high wattage in the lower part of the curve.
So, a complete engine?
Exactly. Our job is to carry out all aspects of the performance, because she is an eclectic athlete. He can also express himself well in a 35-minute time trial.
In an increasingly specific cycling world, isn't there a risk that it's too eclectic?
I don't think so, especially considering his young age. It's a winning choice to further develop a complete base engine. These are our first attempts at the WorldTour, and we're still discovering Federica. We're talking about a 2005 class rider, so we need to experiment with the calendar as well. Once we have 100 percent clear on its strengths, we will be able to direct it towards a certain type of competition.Looking ahead, a stage race with time trials and moderate elevation gain could even see her in the general classification.
Could classics like Flanders or Sanremo be right for her?
Definitely yes. He has the critical power to clear walls lasting five to eight minutes. He also drives very well and moves very intelligently in a group.
Venturelli's cross-country experience comes in handy...
Absolutely, just like on the track. Even though she hasn't competed in any major group events on the track yet, she knows how to move and is used to training with others. In these races, positioning is worth 80 percent of the final result. For this reason, given their young age, it is right not to force specialization too early.
What role can he have on a technical-tactical level in the team?
It depends a lot on who will be the captain. It's her first year in the WorldTour, so her role could vary. She won't be captain in races like Flanders or Roubaix, but she could have a very important supporting role, even a decisive one in moments when the race heats up. If the captain doesn't have the right legs, Federica could become a solution. Support yes, but not only as a domestique and not only in the first part of the race.
What kind of racing will you do during the season?
The first part of the season will be more oriented towards cobblestones. For the second part, the Grand Tours, we're evaluating. One thing's certain: it won't make more than one, we want to preserve itWe coaches also need to understand his recovery phases. With Bragato, we've identified some opportunities to incorporate track activity: there will be the European Championships (Turkey, February 1-5), at least one World Cup event, and the World Championships (China, October 14-18).
How many hours of training do you work on average?
She's not a pushy girl. She also has university commitments, with labs that require her to return in the afternoon. Aside from retreats, where she clearly does more, In a week, he works about 20 hours. This means there's still plenty of room for improvement. As long as it responds like this and grows year after year without exaggerating the load, why add “free” volume and tire it out? It is the concept of minimum effective dose And right now, it's ideal for her. It works. If she gets results with 20 hours, there's no point in increasing it to 30. She'll need that margin in the future, when she really needs it to make a further leap.
