European track championships, gold to Martina Fidanza in the scratch
European Track Championships, gold to Martina Fidanza in scratch
Italy’s adventure at the European Championships in Heusden-Zolder starts off on the right foot. On the Belgian ring, on the first day of competition, comes the first European title for the blue group with Martina Fidanza, who takes a fantastic gold in the Scratch beating the reigning world champion, Lorena Wiebes.
The Italian got the better of the Dutchwoman in the final duel, choosing the inside trajectory and holding her position, leaving no room for Wiebes’s attack. The Dutchwoman tried to overtake her, but the Italian held on and crossed the finish line first. Third place went to Portuguese Maria Martins. With this victory, Fidanza adds the European title to her two world titles, confirming herself as the undisputed queen of the specialty.
The words of Martina Fidanza: "I think it was a result a bit unexpected, because I did not think I could beat the world champion in a sprint. Instead we had believed, we put a good ratio to be able to stand up to her. I am very satisfied. On the last lap I thought she was going to pass me, but instead when I saw that she remained theì I thought "maybe I can do it". And soì è it was".
TEAM CHASE – Italy’s adventure in the team pursuit at the European Track Championships in Heusden-Zolder starts off on the right foot. After the qualifications of the team sprint, in the afternoon è it was the turn of the quartets, who immediately showed excellent performances in the Belgian velodrome.
In the women’s team, Martina Alzini, Chiara Consonni, Martina Fidanza and Vittoria Guazzini set the second best time, touching the top of the standings by just 42 hundredths. Imposing è was Germany with a time of 4’14″994, third was Great Britain, which finished 3″751 behind the Germans.
Less brilliant but still positive was the result of the men, who finished the event in fourth place. Davide Boscaro, Renato Favero, Niccolò Galli and Francesco Lamon showed good teamwork, with the latter dictating the pace of the quartet. The best time è was achieved by Denmark (3’50″991), followed by Great Britain, detached by 587 hundredths. Switzerland, the third fastest time, accused a gap of 3″214, while the Italians finished at 4″769.
Both Italian quartets will be back on the track tomorrow for the first round, where access to the finals will be decided.
TEAM SPRINT – Italy came close to qualifying and won a new Italian record with Miriam Vece, Beatrice Bertolini and Siria Trevisan, challenging the Polish trio of Marlena Karwacka, Urszula Los and Nikola Seremak in the first round. Poland finished in 47.949, while Italy finished the event in 48.817, failing to qualify for the bronze final, but setting a new Italian record in the specialty.
In the men's sprint team, Italy fielded Stefano Minuta, Mattia Predomo and Matteo Bianchi (who replaced Napolitano, who competed in the qualifiers). The Azzurri faced a challenge against world champion Lavreysen, who was running with Leneman and Van Loon. The Dutch won with a time of 43.090. Italy finished in 43.565, touching the national record. As in the women's, Italy did not reach the final, with a seventh place finish.
ELIMINATION – Elia Viviani failed to get into the thick of the race in Elimination: the Italian got caught inside and was eliminated in the early stages, finishing in 15th° place. Winning è again Tim Torn Teutenberg, who repeated his continental title after his success in 2023. The German surpassed at the finish line Rui Oliveira, once again second after his silver medal two years ago. Third place went to Belgian Jules Hesters.
