BENIDORM (Spain) – Federica Venturelli continues to lead the way. After listening to the person concerned and the praise of Elisa Longo Borghiniwe couldn’t help but also talk to the one who trains her every day: her coach Dario Giovine.
We therefore take a technical journey inside the Venturelli engine with the UAE ADQ tuner. A truly important engine. But which, apparently – and this is the best news – has not yet stopped growing. There is a lot of potential: in the future, but also in the immediate future. Not in five or six years: here we can already talk about world championship time trials and great, indeed very great classics.
Dario, first of all, how long have you been following Federica Venturelli?
This year, which begins, will be the third year. He has already spent two seasons in devo and this will be the first WorldTour year, so since she arrived in the team.
So you also followed her when she did cross country?
The first year I followed her was the transition year, when she stopped cyclocross. He had still done the World Cup, if I remember correctly right here in Benidorm, and a few outings. However, we were already deciding on the path that would take it increasingly towards road and track.
These days we often talk about his “big engine”. Besides the numbers, what tells you this is really the case?
The attitude and approach. When I talk about the engine I’m not just referring to the numbers. Federica’s great driving force is also her attitude to work, the precision with which she trainswhich then leads to the performances we saw. She has always been a great professional for the attention she puts into everything, and this is also reflected off the bike. For example, in his studies he has a very high performance, as in sports. It is precisely his work ethic, as a person, that makes the difference.
Let’s get more technical: it goes strong on the road and it goes fast on the track in the pursuit, an effort that lasts about four minutes. How do you train such different qualities?
It is essential to say that there is a great synergy with the technical sector of the national track team. With Diego Bragato I have an excellent relationship and continuous communication, which in my opinion is the basis of the results. There is clarity on calendars, commitments, recovery phases and specific training sessions. Sometimes I also follow the track training myself. Then Federica is very professional in providing feedback. What we have understood is that we need to interpret the physiological and metabolic demands of the track well without creating unnecessary overlaps.
Meaning what?
Avoid repeating on the road work that has already been developed on the track. He has already stimulated the qualities there, so on the road we try to complete the physiological and metabolic profile. We know that it’s not just a track racer and it’s not just a time trialist. I, compared to Bragato, I focus more on developing its aerobic characteristicsbalancing the work based on what he does on the track and the necessary recoveries.
So endurance work?
But not only that. There are also specific time trial jobs, very close to the threshold. We work on aerobic and anaerobic thresholds, always after allowing the right amount of recovery compared to track work which is extremely taxing. The goal is not to create duplications: he does his strength and standing starts on the track, it makes no sense to propose them again two days later on the road.
Today, what do you excel at most: one minute, four minutes, ten minutes?
Federica has a very complete profile. It is very strong on short critical powers: one minute and 30 seconds are excellent. He also has a good peak power, thanks to his physical structure. AND it is not at all “stopped” at the sprint. At the same time, a very efficient aerobic profile emerges from the lactate curve tests. This allows it to go fast even on the run from afar, with high wattages in the lower part of the curve.
In short, a complete engine?
Exact. Our job is to carry out all aspects of the performance, because she is an eclectic athlete. He can express himself well even in a 35 minute time trial.
In increasingly specific cycling, isn’t there the risk of it being too eclectic?
In my opinion, no, especially given his young age. It is a winning choice to still develop a complete basic engine. These are the first approaches to the WorldTour and we are still discovering Federica. We are talking about a class of 2005, so we also have to experiment in terms of calendar. When we have 100 percent clarity on its strengths, we will be able to direct it towards a certain type of competition. Looking ahead, a stage race with a time trial and non-extreme altitude differences could also see it in the general classification.
Could classics like Fiandre or Sanremo be suitable for you?
Definitely yes. It has critical powers to overcome five to eight minute walls. He also drives very well and moves with great intelligence in a group.
The past in cross country comes in handy for Venturelli…
Absolutely yes, as is the track. Even though she hasn’t done any big group events on the track yet, she knows how to move and is used to training together with the others. In these races, positioning is worth 80 percent of the final result. Because of this, given the young age, it is right not to force specialization too early.
What role can he have on a technical-tactical level in the team?
It depends a lot on who the captain will be. It’s his first WorldTour year, so the role may vary. She won’t be captain in races like Flanders or Roubaix, but she will be able to have a very important support role, even decisive in moments when the race explodes. If the captain doesn’t have the right legs, Federica can become a solution. Support yes, but not just as a wingman and not just in the first part of the race.
What kind of racing will you do during the season?
The first part of the season will be more oriented on stones. For the second part, that of the Grand Tours, we are evaluating. One thing is certain: he won’t make more than one, we want to preserve it. We technicians also need to understand his recovery phases well. With Bragato we have identified some moments to include track activity: there will be the European Championships (Turkey, 1-5 February), at least one World Cup race and the World Championship (China, 14-18 October).
How many hours of training do you work on average?
She’s not a pushy girl. She also has the commitment of the University, with workshops that require her to return in the afternoon. Excluding the retreats, in which he does more clearly, in a week he does about 20 hours of work. This means that there is still a lot of room for work. As long as it responds like this and grows year after year without exaggerating with the load, why add “free” volume and tire it out? It is the concept of minimum effective dose and right now it’s ideal for her. Works. If she gets results with 20 hours, there is no point in taking her to 30. She will need that margin in the future, when she really needs it to make a further leap.
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