The 2025 Para-cycling World Championships concluded in Rio de Janeiro, which from October 16 to 19 brought together the world's top national teams at the Olympic Velodrome. Italy archives the event with a more than positive outcome: seven total medals (4 golds, 2 silvers, and 1 bronze) and third place in the medal table, behind Australia and Great Britain.

Illuminating the Italian delegation was Claudia Cretti, the absolute protagonist with four world titles won in as many competition days. A perfect journey, beautifully concluded with the WC5 scratch, where the Lombard athlete delivered an applause-worthy victory: in the last kilometer, she caught and overtook all her competitors, including Polish athlete Anna Harkowska, who had gained over a lap's advantage. For Cretti, this is the fourth gold after those in speed, kilometer, and elimination, confirming exceptional condition and clarity.

"Becoming a world champion is never by chance, doing so four times in the same event is even less so," the Italian athlete commented at the end of the day. And she added: "When I started this journey, it seemed like a distant, almost unattainable goal. Today I enjoy this result, which stems from hard work, patience, and the trust of my technical commissioner Pierpaolo Addesi and technician Fabio Masotti, who followed me step by step. I thank the Cycling Federation, Fiamme Azzurre, Top Girls Fassa Bortolo, and everyone who works behind the scenes daily, from the mechanic to the masseur. A special thought to my family, who supported me since 2017, after the crash at the Women's Giro d'Italia, and never stopped believing in me".

The Italian National Team leaves Brazil with great satisfaction: a compact group, numerically limited but of high level, capable of standing up to world powers. A result that confirms the value of the technical project and the solidity of the work carried out by the Italian staff.

Technical Commissioner Pierpaolo Addesi: "Results come when you work with seriousness, cohesion, and shared objectives. This World Championship confirms the group's growth, both technically and humanly. We have a young group, with athletes still taking their first steps at the international level, but who have already shown they can be among the best. Claudia Cretti's four world jerseys are an exceptional result, but what matters most is the team spirit and mentality that is consolidating in our para-cycling. We return from Rio with confidence and the awareness of having an important path ahead towards Los Angeles".

Satisfaction also in the words of President Cordiano Dagnoni, who draws an overall assessment of the event: "Seven medals, four world titles, and evident growth in all specialties: the Rio World Championship confirms that the Italian Paralympic track movement is in full evolution". And further: "Claudia Cretti has accomplished something extraordinary, winning four golds and demonstrating a technical and mental level of absolute international value. The tandems have confirmed their reference role in the world panorama, competing at the highest level in both speed and pursuit, marking further growth compared to the past season. Giacomo Salvalaggio's debut was also excellent, managing to finish in the top ten in his first world championship experience: a result that opens very interesting prospects for the future. This is only the first year of the quadrennial that will take us to Los Angeles, but the foundations are solid. We can aim very high: the work of Technical Commissioner Addesi and the entire technical staff is bringing concrete results and, above all, enthusiasm and confidence to the entire group".