European track championships, Italy closes on a high note with six medals

The last day of the European Track Championships closes with a new reason for satisfaction for Italy, which brings to six the total haul of medals thanks to the bronze won in the women’s madison. Stepping onto the podium were Federica Venturelli and Elisa Balsamo, who had already been protagonists in the previous days: in fact, both had contributed to the third place of the team pursuit quartet, while Venturelli had also hit silver in the individual event.

The Azzurre finished the race with 26 points, behind Belgium, who became European champion with 50 points, and Great Britain, second with 27. It was a hard-fought and always balanced test, in which Italy managed from the early stages to get into the rankings and remain firmly in the group in the running for the medals. Venturelli and Balsamo moved with regularity in the sprints, responding to the continuous changes of pace and maintaining contact with the best even when Belgium stretched progressively. The last sprint was decisive, allowing the Italian pair to secure third place and secure the continental bronze.

Making the result even more relevant is the story of the two protagonists. Elisa Balsamo, an experienced athlete and already world road and track champion, and Federica Venturelli, very young but already capable of imposing herself at the highest levels, represent two different generations united by a surprisingly similar path. Different in physical characteristics, very similar in mentality, they share a rigorous and knowledgeable approach to sport: Balsamo has a degree in Modern Literature, Venturelli studies Pharmacy, a sign of a maturity that goes beyond their age. Shielded away from the spotlight, in competition they instead know how to express determination, tactical lucidity and talent. Seeing them win together is an image that perfectly tells the present and future of Italian cycling, founded on continuity, preparation and passion.