Tin on the road, gold on the train: The crazy story of a tireless Italian

Created: 08/16/2022, 14:09

“Wanted to give Italy a jersey”: Elia Viviani.

© JOHN MACDOUGALL

Elia Viviani actually drives on the road and is at home in the Ineos Grenadiers team.

He now won gold on the track.

Munich – Elia Viviani did one lap of honor after the other.

The tireless Italian, it seemed, just didn't want to get off his bike even at the end of a long day of competition.

He fully savored the undisputed gold medal in the European Championship qualifying run on the track to the applause of the Munich audience.

"I wanted to give Italy and this fantastic team a jersey," said Viviani after his successful extra shift: "You deserve it."

Viviani had actually wanted to win the coveted white EM jersey with the blue chest ring earlier.

In the more than 200 km long road race, the professional cyclist from the Ineos Grenadiers team sprinted for victory in vain.

Viviani was seventh - and decided to start on the track without further ado.

Five hours after the hot race on the road, Viviani was back in the saddle in the exhibition halls.

It became a no-brainer for the world champion.

Berlin's Theo Reinhardt, who surprisingly won silver, capitulated after Viviani's first powerful start.