Simone Consonni, silver that counts in the omnium

Simone Consonni silver

Italy also moves the medal table of the European Track Championships on the fourth day of competition thanks to Simone Consonni, silver in the Omnium. Early in the morning comes the news: Elia Viviani, indisposed since yesterday is forced to forfeit. Taking his place is Simone Consonni, already a protagonist with the quartet and in the points race. The Veronese champion says goodbye on social: “I’m sorry to leave the European Championships without having left my mark, but I’m knocked out in bed with probably the classic seasonal flu. Now the priority is to recover and be ready for UAE tour.”

Simone Consonni, for his part, immediately having won the silver medal, sends a thought just to Elia: ‘”I took the captain’s place, I hope I replaced him worthily. As I have said on other occasions, I like the points race. I’m glad I defended myself against champions like Benjamin Thomas, who ran an incredible race.”

Indeed, the Frenchman, who landed in the final points race with a two-point gap right behind Simone and six from the top, immediately starts to lead the way. He wins the first three sprints, then gains a lap. The Italian does not immediately take his wheel: ‘I wanted to surprise him, so I waited until the second part of the race to try something.’ And indeed after 50 laps he gets in on the action by gaining the lap that catapults him into second position. From then on it is a struggle between the two, with Simone launching his second attack with 5 km to go. He takes the lap but the Frenchman responds promptly. In the end, silver does not take the smile off the Italian’s face: ‘A medal that is always a pleasure and that comes after two European titles.”