After 61 years since the last time, the Italy of track cycling returns to win gold at the Olympics in team pursuit. Filippo Ganna, Francesco Lamon, Simone Consonni and Jonathan Milan they beat Denmark and touched up the world record again already obtained in the semifinals. This time the four blue boys completed the test with the sensational time of 3'42 "032.
Track cycling, the incredible comeback of Ganna and his companions
An extraordinary test of Italy that with four laps to go was almost a second behind Denmark. A comeback that leads the signature of Filippo Ganna, capable of pulling the blue train and overtaking right on the finish line after having gnawed tenths back after back. Victory allows Italy to conquer the sixth Tokyo 2020 gold medal. Nothing to do for Hansen, Larsen, Madsen and Pedersen, the Danish train that gave way in the last few meters. For the Italy of track cycling an unimaginable goal until a few years ago. A victory that moved all members of the team, in tears at the end of the race.
For Italy it is the medal number 30 of the expedition to Tokyo, the twelfth in the discipline, which however missed the podium from Mexico City 1968. In addition, Italy returns to be the mistress of the world record after 25 years. It was 31 August 1996 when Adler Capelli, Cristiano Citton, Andrea Collinelli and Mauro Trentini set the world limit of 4'00 ″ 958 in Manchester.
Record-breaking Italy
A team that had already impressed in the semifinals for its ability to make up for the gap in the final laps. Italy had beaten New Zealand by setting a time of 3'42 ”307, the world record of the discipline. No one could have imagined that 24 hours later the same quartet would be able to further refine that time. Filippo Ganna, Francesco Lamon, Simone Consonni and Jonathan Milan further improved the time trial by over 200 cents. A real enterprise for track cycling.
For Filippo Ganna, the undisputed protagonist of Italy's comeback, the gold medal comes after the criticisms for the time trial on the road. The specialist finished fifth in the test (held a week ago) despite being one of the strongest specialists. The course, however, was not suited to its characteristics and many were hoping for a superlative test on the track. Ganna did not disappoint expectations and both in the semifinals and in the final he drove the blue train with two comebacks which have already entered the history of sport.
Featured photo source @ConiNews · Sport
Brilliant 👏
Compliments!