The world championship starts in Türkiye and the Veronese is also there, as team manager of the Road and Track Nations: “Keeping the bar of expectations high”.
Elia Viviani didn’t just say that the national team has always been “his” team. He demonstrated this in practice with an exemplary career that peaked in the blue jersey, thanks to the Rio 2016 Olympic gold in the Omnium. Without forgetting the role of Olympic standard-bearer – with Jessica Rossi – in Tokyo in 2021. And the end of October on a high note, with the third world title on the track, in the Elimination, in Santiago de Chile, is already history: the Veronese doesn’t like to sit still and has already taken on the role of road and track team manager (in addition to having become sporting director of Ineos-Grenadiers) of the national team. The Prophet has clear ideas about what “his” Italy should be like. Starting today, in Türkiye, the first international event, the European Track Championships.
Viviani, where do we start?
“From a first key concept: the support to be given to athletes, especially young people”.
On this topic, what do you have in mind?
“We already have some excellence in the present. Like Milan, one of the best sprinters in the world, and Ganna, a certainty for some spring classics, without forgetting how strong they are on the track too. And Pellizzari, more reality than promise. These are just a few examples. Then we have a good brood of talents like Finn, but also Mattia Agostinacchio, who will be the youngest on the World Tour. Or Borgo, who won the Ghent-Wevelgem as an Under 23. We have to take care of them, so to create the champions of tomorrow. We cannot hope that they will fall from the sky.”
“Obviously they are in the hands of the respective teams. But the Federation cannot limit itself to waiting for the teams to ‘grant’ them for the national team call-ups. Ok the World Cup, ok the European Championships, but thanks to the technicians we must have very constant, frequent contact with the athletes, especially with the young people. I would like them, if they have a doubt, a question, an idea… to also deal with the Italian working group. The national team must be a point of reference all year round, not only when he calls for a demonstration.”
And to those who are already ready?
“To offer maximum support to achieve important results. To make them perform in the best possible way even in the national team.”
From 2012 to 2024, cycling as a whole quadrupled the Olympic medals: 1 in London, 4 in Paris, through 2 in Rio and 3 in Tokyo. Is setting the bar at 5 podiums for Los Angeles 2028 too much?
“Paris was an excellent Olympics, it’s normal to at least aim to reconfirm. We know, however, that if everything goes well in three years, getting to 5 isn’t impossible. I’ve always wanted to raise the bar…”.
Keeping ambitions high, not being satisfied, always being hungry: does this also apply as a general concept for the national teams?
“Yes. And I would add: don’t take anything for granted. When you don’t value an important result, and even a silver or bronze can be, that’s the moment when you start to go downhill. Every medal we get, in every event, must have value. But a fourth place must also have value, if it makes us understand what needs to be improved to get on the podium the next time. What that famous quote expresses counts.”
“In sport you don’t lose. Either you win or you learn. When you ‘accept’ the defeat, however, it’s over. Returning to the Los Angeles perspective: reconfirming the 4 medals would be a success, but we must not be made to settle. And another key word will be long-term planning. What we will do in 2028… we must start knowing now”.
On the work method front?
“To convey to all athletes my ambition, the one I had as an athlete. This will perhaps be the greatest objective for me. Everyone, not just the athletes, will have to have it. And also have a clear reason to train and work hard in their head, not do it out of a simple sense of duty. For my part, there will be maximum clarity on this. In short: successes must not come by chance, but as the culmination of a journey. Individual and group”.
You know very high level athletes who are not cyclists, just remember your friendship with Gregorio Paltrinieri: have you thought about exchanges with the Italian cyclists, perhaps simply to talk and share experiences?
“Obviously I don’t deal with the performance side, and I will always respect the skills of those who are dedicated to the sector. But, yes: someone like Greg can be an example in the sense that he is a model athlete, capable of always finding new motivation to remain champion, see the transition to open water. I’m also thinking of Jacobs in Tamberi. And I don’t forget that a very important Italian like Ciccone knows Sinner and Giovinazzi very well. The velodrome will soon reopen completely of Montichiari and I would like to invite the champion-friends, so to speak: to show our world, and hold them as an example for young people”.
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