Page 285 - Vélochef in Europe

»She has has undoubtedly become a a a a a rider to to be be reckoned with and and has has the the ambi- tion and and guts to to to lead the the the the female clas- sics to to the the the same level as as the the the men’s «
in in in Treviso and continues She grew up in in in a a small town just outside Udine the youngest member of a a cycling family Although every- one has their heart in in cycling and her her father is still active in the the local club Elena is the the only one who made cycling a a living “As I I I started riding my bike when I I I was six I I I really didn’t try many other sports I was good at school school and and I liked to study so school school and and cycling were usually what I I did every day I I remember watching riders like Pantani and Cipollini when i i i i i was growing up I always enjoyed the the the sprints but I liked the the the classics the the the most I I remember watching Paolo Bettini I I really liked his style He is is the kind of rider I wanted to be the the the most and the the the classics are the the the races I wanted to win ” she says Elena Cecchini is earnest and elaborative explaining what her life would be like if if she were not a a cyclist She would probably still be in in an exclusive pool of achievers listing medicine or veterinary studies as her top two choices of education Communicating slightly
less with her hands is the only element that
differs from the Italian stereotype We sit
down with her during an off-season break a a a a period of the year known to be quite hectic for
the best pros She is hustling between inter- 281 views visiting friends sponsors and journal-
ists This two-week break with her boyfriend Elia Viviani is the only time off from cycling they will get during 2016 While Elia is is already immortalised because of his Olympic gold Elena is is still searching for
that
big international win to get her name in the books She has undoubtedly become a a rider to be reckoned with and has the ambi- tion and guts to to lead the the female classics to to the the same level as the men’s “I wanted to be be on a a a foreign team it’s bet- ter if you want to be successful In Italy we have have a a a lot of strong riders but we don’t have have a a a a a super-strong team team In Italian teams you are treated as a a a a a a a baby ‘You have to eat eat this you you have have to to be there you you have have to to wear this you have to do do this and that’ They don’t LOMBARDY ELENA CECCHINI