Eight silver circles! The mixed relay in Cycling brings Italy the 21st YOG medal

NANJING 2014

ciclismo2Second YOG medal from cycling, this time in silver. After the gold of the Female pairs, Sofia Beggin and Chiara Teocchi, with their teammates Federico Mandelli and Manuel Todaro, both from the province of Milan, they get second place in the mixed relay with the overall time of 17:31 behind the Team from the Czech Republic, consisting of Barbora Prudkova, Nikola Noskova, Jan Rajchart and Roman Lehky. Third place went to Ukraine's Darya Tkachova, Anzhelika Teterych, Vladyslav Nizitskyi and Rinat Udod. The formula, which included two trials in the MTB Cross Country Eliminator and Road, has brought the qualities of the Azzurri cyclists back into the limelight again, allowing the Male duo to come in tenth place on Friday. "The disappointment for the pair race we immediately put aside - said Mandelli, promise of Mtb Increa Brugherio - From every experience, even if it is negative, you have to take the good, throw the rest away and start over. The opportunity today was too great to pass up. We knew we were among the favourites - the 17 year old continues from Segrate - and before getting in the saddle we prepared well. I am very happy, it was an experience that I will never forget. I dedicate this medal to my parents who have always supported me". Same joy, same thought for Todaro, who, in addition to the family, offers his affectionate gratitude to his mental coach Andrea Arnaboldi and to the trainers Rino De Candido and Luigi Bielli: "There were a lot of us - added the 18-year old from Magenta, registered with the ASD Cycling Biringhello - if only because in the team with us were the new youth Olympic champions. With Sofia and Chiara we have formed a great friendship. What I will take away with me from Nanjing? A silver, the memory of the wonderful hospitality of the Chinese, the fun experienced at the village. And it is obvious that they cannot wait to relive it all. The Olympics is every four years, for this reason it is not comparable to the World Championships. For this reason, the medal around my neck weighs so much".