Matteo Trentin on overthinking World Championships' finale: It was becoming an obsession
Oct 30 2019 06:26 am CET
Matteo Trentin © Mary Cárdenas / CyclingPub.com
Matteo Trentin (Mitchelton-Scott) was left heartbroken by the second place at the World Championships of Yorkshire and one month later he talks about it again.
The Italian was part of the final trio that survived the very hard race of Yorkshire -in which many riders had to abandon due to the rain and the cold. In the last kilometres, the favourite of the day Mathieu van der Poel couldn't handle the pace and Trentin was on paper the strongest rider.
At the last kilometre, the Italian launched his sprint but soon after he was overtaken by Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) who then became World Champion. At the end of the competition, Trentin was completely devastated but after some weeks, he has made his peace with the situation.
"(About the times he has thought about the sprint) So many, too many," he explained to the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta Dello Sport. "It was becoming an obsession. Then I understood... I was putting myself in a dangerous tunnel, I kept screwing myself up unnecessarily.
"I am realist and I say: he had more than me. I lost in a clear way, not at the photo finish."
Trentin also talked about how he was considered the favourite after Van der Poel's crisis. "Everyone took my victory for granted, all except me," he commented. "I was very scared and even more so after Van der Poel's departure from the scene. The one in England was the most gruelling race I have participated in, a survival race where saving my legs was very difficult. Italy was amazing. Pedersen was stronger."
And one month later, he is ready to look to the future. "The season is over and I can have fun with my children, play with them," the Italian affirmed. "You know, I'm the third child in the house. Now there's Halloween, we'll do trick or treat. Then I like to dress up as Batman."
And also to the upcoming season -when he will join CCC Team. "In 2020 the European Championships will be in Trentino, my home," he said. "Then the dream would be a classic monument like Flanders or Sanremo. And about the World Championships: in 2020 it's not for me, but in 2021 I'll try again. If I try again."
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