Italian development programme lauded after Moscow medal haul
Dario Sonda (Italy) takes the scratch race in style. (Image credit: Vassev Stoyan)
Italian Cycling Federation President Renato Di Rocco said he is pleased with the medal count by his country's juniors at the World Championships in Moscow. He noted the riders' improvements on the track, which accounted for five of the seven medals won last week.
"We have re-created a track programme and we are once again competitive," said Di Rocco. "Although we still have a lot of work to do in some specialties to reduce the gap to the other nations."
Di Rocco said the new covered velodrome in Montichiari, Italy, should help the track programme to continue to grow. The 250-metre track opened on May 23, 2009.
Dario Sonda won Italy's only gold medal on the track in the Men's scratch race on Wednesday. Rino Gasparrini, Loris Paoli, Giulia Donato and Elena Cecchini won silver medals.
Rossella Callovi won the women's road race and Susanna Zorzi place third for bronze last Sunday, August 9.
"We are on the right path and encourage everyone to have faith in our programme," said Di Rocco. "It is a programme that works clean, without compromises, with severity and strictness."
The five medals from the track events were the most Italy has won since 1999. It won six medals 10 years ago, but without a gold medal.
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Australia led the medal count in Moscow with ten medals (seven gold, two silver and one bronze) on the track and one on the road.
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