Second medal for the blue expedition to the world championship in Wollongong: after Vittoria Guazzini’s gold in the under 23 time trial, the silver medal in the mixed relay arrives. The Italian girls and boys who finished 2 seconds and 92 cents from the very strong Switzerland that won the world title. Edoardo Affini, Elena Cecchini, Filippo Ganna, Vittoria Guazzini, Elisa Longo Borghini and Matteo Sobrero were the protagonists of a beautiful test fought to the end that also lined up many of the favorite national teams, a team that is certainly growing that improves the bronze of the ‘Last year.
The Team Time Trial Mixed Relay always gives great satisfaction. Italy appeals to the pride of champions such as Filippo Ganna, Edoardo Affini and Matteo Sobrero, who all came out unhappy from the individual time trials. The women’s trio with Elena Cecchini, Elisa Longo Borghini and Vittoria Guazzini offers concrete guarantees with respect to the competition, with the possible exception of the fearsome Dutch trio. The split times do not lie and in the space of a few kilometers they make it clear what a fight would have been between Switzerland and Italy, with Australia third wheel, favored above all by having started much earlier than the other teams and with slightly favorable weather conditions. At the change of men, the Azzurri are 10 “behind.” It is difficult to find the pace in a short race like this – Affini commented – but I think we were all able to express ourselves at our best.
Objectively, Switzerland lined up a really strong trio. It is logical that you always aim for victory, but we gave our all. This silver, 2 “from the first, honors us, brings enthusiasm and tells us that we are still growing”. While Holland struggles backwards for various visissitudes between seagulls and falls and Germany immediately seems far away, we hope to recover in the second part, given the form condition of the Italians. “The plan agreed with the coach Velo – says Elena Cecchini – was the one that I pulled as much as possible at the beginning, possibly up to the climb, to then launch Elisa and Vittoria.” “When the climb came – Guazzini continued – Elisa produced a forcing that almost put me in difficulty too .. I struggled to keep up with her”. After the steepness, the U23 world champion entered into action and expressed the maximum speed in the plane. At the end of the 14 kilometers the trio recovered 8 “over their Swiss rivals. A few more meters and it would have been gold.” For us, the blue jersey is a value – concluded Elisa Longo Borghini – and when there is a fight for a success in common we do not hold back. We have shown that we are always very competitive in this specialty. “To those who point out that Italy is the only team able to confirm last year’s podium, improving their position, Longo Borghini replies:” We have a great school and the movement behind it allows you to always express athletes who are able to perform well. This medal gives us enthusiasm. “” We look to the next appointments with confidence “concluded Matteo Sobrero, also included in the road group together with Affini (in the next few days Daniele Bennati will communicate the owners and the reserves). Now the word passes to the online tests Tomorrow the weather conditions (heavy rain is expected) have advised us not to carry out the reconnaissance of the route, carried out precisely for this reason in the past few days. It will be 24 hours dedicated to finishing and enjoying, for a while longer, this team medal.
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