The Italian quartet, Olympic champion in Tokyo, remained master of the team pursuit during the World Track Cycling Championships on Thursday in Roubaix, beating France in the final.
Led by Filippo Ganna, Liam Bertazzo, Simone Consonni and Jonathan Milan were almost two seconds ahead of their French rivals in a final that was long undecided, until two laps to go.
Italy clocked 3′47′'192 over the 4 km standing start.
Bertazzo (29 years old), who took the place of Francesco Lamon compared to the sacred quartet at the Tokyo Olympics, Consonni (27 years old), Ganna (25 years old) and Milan (21 years old) have given Italy back its supremacy in the event at the Worlds.
His previous title dated back to… 1997 before a long period dominated for the most part by Australians and the British.
The French, too, have returned to the high level.
Absent (not qualified) for the Tokyo Olympics, the group coached by Steven Henry achieved the most convincing performance in its history.
Silver chasers 🥈
The French team stood up to Italy for a long time and became World Vice-Champion in team pursuit!
# Roubaix2021 #JeRouleAvecSKF pic.twitter.com/RUd1ZwQMTX
- FFC (@FFCyclisme) October 21, 2021
France had not been on the podium since the 2003 Worlds (bronze).
Valentin Tabellion (22 years old) and Thomas Denis (24 years old), two licensed runners in the Xelliss Roubaix road team, teamed up with Benjamin Thomas (26), the pillar of the group, and the "ghost" Thomas Boudat (27), 2014 omnium world champion, who left the track after the Rio Olympics.
The bronze medal went to Great Britain, who beat the very young team of Denmark, including Carl-Frederik Bevort (17).