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Elia Viviani has had in the future marked on his 2024 diary for a number of years now.
The Italian returned to Ineos Grenadiers in 2022 with the 2024 Paris Olympic Video games on the forefront of his thoughts, understanding the British outfit may greatest accommodate his objectives for it.
This 12 months Viviani is getting ready to be chosen for and have in what will probably be his profession fourth Olympics, aiming to medal at sport’s largest event for a 3rd consecutive time.
He needs to compete on the observe within the Omnium, his pet occasion, and the Madison, and can also be coaching for the staff pursuit to enhance his choice probabilities. Italy is a powerful favorite for gold within the males’s TP.
“The purpose is for certain to attempt once more to go for gold. Omnium is the primary day for me. 8 August is that day of my season,” Viviani advised Cyclingnews on the Tour Down Beneath, the place he opened his 2024 WorldTour marketing campaign.
“The Olympics 12 months is all the time particular. As quickly as you come near the occasion, you are feeling this particular second is coming.”
The 34-year-old is aware of success on the observe, which is probably a part of the rationale he retains coming again to it. He received gold within the Omnium on the Rio Video games and bronze in Tokyo.
Viviani doesn’t should look too far for an perception on whom he believes will probably be his largest rival within the males’s omnium both, naming commerce teammate Ethan Hayter (Group GB) as the primary man to beat. It goes with out saying that within the Ineos Grenadiers staff bus the pair don’t discuss observe ways.
“However it’s going to be good to have a teammate as a rival in that occasion,” mentioned Viviani.
The Italian believes that GB’s efficiency within the latest European Observe Championships, the place GB secured their first gold medal within the males’s TP in 9 years, is indicative of the form of issues to return with regards to rivals. And concerning Hayter particularly, he says, “I believe, Ethan in prime form is the man who’s troublesome even to observe. For certain Ethan is the person to beat.”
A gold medal observe bid on the Olympics is a part of the rationale Vivian opted to begin his 2024 marketing campaign in Australia, the place he’s embarking on a month-long block of racing on the highway and within the velodrome.
Viviani struggled with the warmth on stage one of many Tour Down Beneath however was within the mixture of the dash finishes thereafter, ending second to Sam Welsford (Bora-Hansgrohe) on stage three. Ineos Grenadiers was unable to match Bora-Hansgrohe’s lead-out the next day however not by way of need of attempting. Viviani will line up on the Cadel Evans Nice Ocean Highway Race in Victoria on the weekend earlier than returning to Adelaide for the UCI Observe Nations Cup.
“I work actually onerous throughout the winter and [even] in my greatest season by no means dominate [at the Tour Down Under]. One stage win is the utmost I’ve taken on the Tour Down Beneath, so I’m not frightened about that,” he mentioned concerning his efficiency in South Australia.
“Cadel Evans is one in every of my favorite races. Each time I’ve participated, I have been combating for the win or like all the time there within the prime 10. So I’m actually targeted on that.”
In South Australia, Viviani was in a position to depend on the horsepower of Filippo Ganna and extremely touted teenager Josh Tarling, in addition to the experience of veteran Ben Swift, whom he sees as an vital support to his endeavours on the highway this season.
While the Olympics is his fundamental, overarching purpose of 2024, Viviani additionally has ambitions to extend his victory tally and be chosen for the Giro d’Italia.
“Our race program doesn’t match actually with all the opposite guys who’re right here,” Viviani mentioned.
“My race program will proceed with the UAE [Tour] after which the Volta a Catalunya, and Tour of Romandie simply to attempt to make the choice for the Giro. It’s not straightforward, the staff as we all know is super-strong, and it actually needs to placed on a powerful efficiency on the Giro.”
“So, my first purpose is making the choice for the Giro and after the Giro, concentrate on the Olympics,” he mentioned.
“I’ll go in UAE [Tour] simply with Swifty. However the confidence I’ve with Swifty is admittedly good – he is the identical age, we have spent plenty of years collectively within the peloton. He may be the man who helps me a lot this 12 months.”
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