2024 has started on the right foot for Italian cycling. In the year of the Paris Games and the Tour de France that will start from Florence, the first successes have arrived for the Italian expedition at the European Track Championships in Apeldoorn. In Holland there was the show of the women's quartet made up of Elisa Balsamo, Vittoria Guazzini, Martina Fidanza and Letizia Paternoster, who overtook Great Britain world champion and climbed to the top step of the podium with 4'12"551. Paternoster was also a protagonist in the Omnium, but failed to get on the podium obtaining a 6th place, while the victory went to the Norwegian Stenberg, the silver to Evans and the bronze to Valentine Fortine. The 119 points were not enough for the Italian, as was the effort of Luca Giaimi and Niccolò Galli in the individual pursuit and Matteo Fiorin in the Scratch. Although the medals did not arrive today, Italy has so far obtained four medals and is third in the medal table behind Great Britain and Germany.
Historic feat that of Matteo Bianchi, who won the continental title in the standing kilometer with a time of 1'00"272.
This is the first ever success for Italian cycling in this specialty and to strengthen the feat even more is the fact that it has succeeded in one of the temples of world speed and in front of the local favorite Daan Krool. "Matteo is a serious guy and a hard worker. This success gives him even more conviction in his qualities," said coach Marco Villa.
Italy, therefore, confirms itself as a leading nation in the speed sector and a point of reference at an international level.
In addition to the golds of Bianchi and the women's quartet, there were two bronze medals: the first with the men's quartet composed of Jonathan Milan, Davide Boscaro, Francesco Lamon and Simone Consonni, who overcame Germany in the challenge for third place with a time of 3'49"974. Great Britain won gold ahead of world champions Denmark. The second with Martina Fidanza in the Scratch.
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