ELIA VIVIANI AND NALINI: AN UNDERSTANDING THAT LASTS OVER TIME

On the occasion of Elia Viviani's last visit to Moa Sport to try the kit made for his team, Cofidis, of which Nalini is a partner also for 2021, we asked him a few questions to get to know better not only the great champion, but also the person.

The concept of sacrifice and the double commitment team / National team, how do you face them every day?

Sacrifice is a part of cycling, it's a part of sport, but I consider myself lucky to make my passion my job. Every day I get up and I know that a hard day of training awaits me, but I'm happy because I do what I like and the perception of sacrifice is less. The double commitment road/track, or at least team Cofidis and National team has become a habit for me after so many years, I feel them both as my two teams. The results are the fuel to keep me going and lead me to aim higher and higher.

Chapter Olympics: any anecdotes about the Olympic gold in Rio and how do you see 2021?

The Olympics are something great, immense. On that occasion, in those days, all the champions of all the sports in the world meet, in the same village, in the same canteen, all on the same level, and the beauty of seeing, meeting, having a chat with those who are your idols from other sports is fantastic. Being at the Olympics and representing Italy, your country, and trying to place the Italian flag on the top step of the podium is an unimaginable emotion. Nothing is more important than a medal at the Olympics.

Who or what gives Elia Viviani strength in the dark moments? 

My fiancée, my family members. I spend a lot of time away from home and away from my dearest ones and this leads me to give them a fundamental role in my sport. I've had many dark moments, the most recent being this 2020 without any satisfaction, but believing in myself and having people who do the same helps me overcome them. I don't feel sorry for myself, I'm someone who likes to forget and react immediately. The past is the past, you have to improve the present and prepare for the future.

If you could take a step back in time, who would you have liked to measure yourself against?

Mario Cipollini, the greatest Italian sprinter of all time, the kind I like, winner of many stages of the great Giri but also of important classic races like Milano Sanremo and Ghent Wevelgem, and, last but not least, the World Championship. I would have liked to have seen him in the peloton, how he moved, how he approached the sprint and then obviously measure myself against him.

What do you look for in clothing and what do you think about the Nalini kit? 

My relationship with Nalini goes back a long way, given that my mother used to gift me Nalini pro teams bike kits for Christmas, then my transition to professional cycling, the first victories, all with Nalini clothing in my first 5 years as a Pro at Liquigas team then Cannondale. Thus it's a strong collaboration that has been going on for a long time. Last year with my arrival in Cofidis it was great to design the European champion's outfit and to be able to wear it for the 2021 season. I ask a lot to the Nalini staff, we athletes are very demanding, from comfortable winter clothing, but resistant to low temperatures and waterproof, to summer clothing, light, breathable but also performing. In recent years, the study of performance is bringing our sport to very high levels, so for my sprints we have developed a special aerodynamic bodysuit that is tailored to me and I know very well that I can do this only because I am in front of a company and a family, that of Nalini, which has done the best for the athletes over the years.