GROSSETO – 5.20pm. «They both knew that whoever won the time trial would have a place at the Olympics – says Velo – but now they’ve put me in a bad situation. I’ll need some time to rearrange ideas and evaluate the progress of the race. I have until July 5th to decide between Guazzini and Longo Borghini…”.
Late afternoon, a big mess happened and now history has to be rewritten. Elisa Longo Borghini did not win the time trial tricolor with a 0.950 advantage over Vittoria Guazzini, because she was penalized. Elena Pirrone remains in third place, satisfied. She says she came aiming for the podium and that she couldn’t have done anything against the first two.
Guazzini second for 95 cents
4.06pm, let’s take a step back. Guazzini is annoyed, as anyone would be if they lost an Italian championship by less than a second. He left the podium area to go get the necessary things to change, even if when he returns he is still wearing the Fiamme Oro bodysuit. If Elisa Longo Borghini hadn’t made it, the full podium would have the garnet colors of the State Police.
«I knew we were risking participation in the Paris time trial – says Guazzini – however I didn’t want to be influenced too much. I knew there was a lot at stake. Before leaving they told me to have fun and do it for me. Now, it’s not a given that it’s fun to do half an hour like this, one block at a time. But I had fun. I did a good time, I have to be happy with this. I don’t even want to think about where I left the second one I missed, because maybe in reverse order she might think the same thing. We did two excellent time trials and I have to congratulate Longo. But it’s not like we’re finding out today, she’s been going strong all year, so she’s very good.”
The fear of Moscow
4.15pm. Time passes, waiting for the awards ceremony. It takes a long time and the sun beats down so hard that someone starts to complain. Suddenly Jacopo Mosca arrives, who was in the Lidl-Trek flagship with Slongo and says that the Jury has just met. It seems that they dispute the distance between the car and Elisa during the time trial, she fears that they might take her shirt off. There would be videos. Doctor Daniele also approaches and then Slongo arrives, heading towards the tent where the Jury is making her decision.
Moscow remembers that a judge followed the entire trial and one wonders why, if he had detected an irregularity, he didn’t give a warning. Nobody believes that the result of the road can be questioned, even if some doubts are starting to creep in among the Piedmontese champion’s clan.
Longo Borghini from the Jury
4.20pm. A man who is part of the organization approaches Longo Borghini. The girls are sitting under the gazebo, Elisa in the centre, the other two on the sides: as if on the podium. In the meantime, a few meters from here the under 23 race is starting, on this day against time that seems as slow as a mass sung in Latin.
Longo Borghini enters under the green gazebo at the foot of the stage. He stays inside for two minutes, then leaves. The smile with which she greeted the victory is now tight, cheeks red from the sun and perhaps from anger. He doesn’t say anything. He approaches Vittoria Guazzini, puts a hand on her shoulder, says a few words and then they hug her. Then he sits down, raises his gaze, crosses it with ours and raises his index and middle fingers: second.
Mosca has a livid look, he prefers not to speak. The question is always the same: Was there a complaint or did the Jury do everything independently? The stakes are high, you don’t play for a place in the Olympics every day.
The awards are less high-sounding than those for men. Suddenly Pirrone and Longo Borghini get up and head towards the anti-doping station.
20 second penalty
4.40pm. We had walked next to her after the Liège victory, this time her psychological picture is different. In Belgium she was beaten by Grace Brown’s sprint, here she did her time trial without ever taking her eyes off the roadshe won and now finds herself second.
«First I won – says Longo Borghini – then they told me that unfortunately the car was too close to me. As a result I received a 20 second penalty and was demoted to second place. But I personally can’t do anything about it, I didn’t know. I worked hard, I gave a good performance. What I have to say? We’ll do it again next year, but obviously we’re sorry. Today there was something bigger at stake, though This is not a choice that depends on me. Just as whether or not I won the tricolor jersey didn’t depend on me. Of course it burns and it’s annoying, these are things that happen in sport and have always happened. I’m sorry it happened to me.
«I started to understand that something was strange when they postponed the awards ceremony and told me that the Jury would come to talk to me. I’m annoyed, who wouldn’t be? I would have liked to win this tricolor jersey, let’s see if I can make up for it on the road on Saturday. The route is not suited to my characteristics, however Today I did a good time in terms of numbers. And the condition is there, I also showed it in Switzerland, so let’s see how it goes on a Saturday…”.
Guazzini dazed
4.48pm. Let’s go back to the podium and we see Vittoria Guazzini arrive, with the tricolor shirt and a series of gadgets and trophies in her hands. Her father handed her a cell phone a little while ago, but she appears dazed.
“What happened? Honestly I do not know. Obviously I’m happy with this tricolor – he says – but it was a bit strange. I was satisfied with my time trial, I felt sorry for those 95 cents. Then it was a whirlwind of emotions, with this decision that was communicated to us. I am sincerely sorry for Elisa, as much as I am happy with the shirt I am wearing. I’m not sure how things went. There was a break before the awards, so I said I would go and change so I wouldn’t get sick. Then I came back and I was told this. I was a little taken aback, it’s not like passing the finish line and knowing you’ve won. But I think there are regulations. Could this mean I’ll go to the Paris time trial? It could, I don’t know. In the meantime I’ll enjoy the shirt, then we’ll see.
«The summer is going quite well. I did a retreat at high altitude with the Cec (Elena Cecchini, ed.), who really put up with me. Then I did some training on the track, a couple of stage races and now I’ll get back on the track with those other… unfortunates of the quartet. I will do the Giro d’Italia. Let’s try to make the best approach. We may not know if it is actually the right one, but we believe in what we do. We are truly mentalized.”
The opinion of a judge
It’s 5.10pm and there’s still everything to write. But let’s challenge the hot sun once again go to the start to ask a judge for information. We see Francesca Mannori checking the U23 bikes and we remember the large amount of fines that flew with her at the Giro d’Italia: certainly severe management. We approach one of her colleagues. The question is simple: if the judge supervising the athlete sees incorrect behavior, is he required to notify the athlete and the team or can he decide to proceed directly to the sanction?
«It’s not that you have to start giving warnings for every runner – he explains – if the judge finds the infringement, he applies the regulation. There is no necessarily need for anyone to appeal. In this case it was a 20 second penalty. There is no obligation to warn.”
And so before we start writing, let’s go back to Velo’s words that closed this elite women’s race. Elisa Longo Borghini won the Italian road championship, Vittoria Guazzini is the new tricolor jersey. It will now be up to Velo to get out of the situation they put him in.
