A representative of the Elite Women’s National Team carried out an inspection of the Olympic routes on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th May Paris 2024.
Vittoria Guazzini tried the time trial route; the following day all the athletes completed the lap on the road route which includes a road section and a city circuit.
These are their impressions.
Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini: “A choppy path that opens up different scenarios but which adapts to the characteristics of each of us Italians regardless of who will then be called up for the Olympics.”
Silvia Persico: “In the online part anything can happen, a breakaway can happen. Final circuit not very technical but tough.”
Soraya Palladin: “There are difficult stretches in the inline part. The street circuit is certainly beautiful. The Montmartre climb is tough but far enough from the finish. It will be an open race.”
Elisa Balsamo: “Very beautiful route, the online part is hilly with two challenging climbs. Once you enter Paris, the city frees your imagination. An open competition for all solutions should be envisaged.”
Sofia Bertizzolo: “Very interesting how the organization combined the race with the sporting event. I don’t think there are any major difficulties apart from the distance. In my opinion, the key to the race could be the small number of athletes in the group: an opportunity that only presents itself once every four years. I find everything very beautiful.”
Vittoria Guazzini, regarding the time trial route: “It was important to see it and experience it. Chrono for specialists, long enough for us women. There are curves that allow you to break the rhythm and recover. It will be impressive to compete in Paris”
Elena Cecchini: “They were two very important and productive days, which allow us to understand how to best prepare for this appointment. In the online part there are no long climbs but still challenging climbs especially due to the wind. We will have to stay alert. An evocative street circuit, not technical but which requires maximum attention throughout the race. There will be little control and this will make everything very addictive and unpredictable.”
At the end of the day the Coach Paolo Sangalli commented: “I am very happy with this inspection because we were able to see the route in its entirety in two days. The only disappointment is that Elisa Longo Borghini, a fundamental athlete of our team, was unable to come because she was struggling with bronchitis.”
