Simone Consonni explains the feat: “I took revenge.”

Simone Consonni enjoys the European gold won in the points race

The triumphant day of Italian track cycling, closed by the success of the Italian quartet in the men’s pursuit, had begun with another gold, that of Simone Consonni in the points race.

The Bergamasque, to the official channels of Federciclismo, did not hide his enthusiasm: “I wanted to run a points race and I had been asking Marco (Villa, the coach of the national track cycling team) for a long time. I finally succeeded and this continental title, which I had been missing after the Olympics and World Championships, also arrived. At the Saudi Tour I had back problems and I thought I was not well. But when I come back to the national team I feel like I am at home, among friends. I want to thank the Federation for that, all the staff who immediately did their best to put me in the best conditions.”

On the race that had long seen Frenchman Grondin ahead, third at the end, Consonni added: “Last year (Grondin) beat me in the Omnium in the very last sprint. Today I took my revenge. After 20 laps I realized I had something more than the others. I tried to find my rhythm and then make the difference. I’m really happy: I had a great start to the season.”