With character, she managed to leave behind the first part of 2025 conditioned by physical problems and with determination and hard work, she succeeded in redeeming herself, obtaining excellent results up to her first elite world title in the Team Pursuit event on the track. Federica Venturelli, from Cremona, born in 2005, drawing the balance of her sporting year, states: "The first half of the season, I cannot consider satisfactory. The second part went decidedly well, and therefore I believe I can give myself an 8.5 out of 10".
Speaking to tuttobiciweb, Federica continues her analysis focusing on road races: "I practically started racing in May, skipping all the road races in Belgium that have routes suitable for my characteristics. Since the start wasn't the best, once I returned, I competed in races with very challenging routes, on paper less suitable for me like Tour de l'Avenir Femmes and Tour de l'Ardèche, not aiming for results but rather with the goal of growing and improving. And so it was, I improved uphill, I managed to help the team when needed, and therefore I am satisfied with what I did".
Federica's end of season was truly brilliant: in the World Championship in Rwanda, she won the bronze medal in the individual time trial, standing on the podium with world champion Zoe Bäckstedt and Slovak Viktória Chladoňová, who finished second. Then, at the European Championships in France, she won the individual time trial in the U23 category and took second place in the mixed relay alongside Guazzini, Cecchini, Frigo, Milesi, and Ganna.
The highlight for Venturelli is certainly winning the world title in the team pursuit (with Guazzini, Alzini, Fidanza, and Consonni) on the track of the Santiago del Cile Velodrome. "Winning my first world championship in the elite category was something beautiful, something I will hardly forget," she says, still a bit emotional. Then she explains: "Since the youth categories, I have practiced track cycling, but with the transition from Junior, I started building the path towards the goal by working with the "big" ones. It took some time to fit in perfectly with the group, but the moment arrived, I seized my opportunity, it went very well, and I am happy".
Still talking about track cycling, the young athlete reveals her goals for 2026: "The first appointment will be the European Championship in Konya, Turkey, then I will compete in a World Cup event and the World Championships in October".
The UAE Team ADQ, the club where the talented athlete from Cremona arrived in 2024, has promoted her to the WorldTour formation, and during the training camp in Benidorm, the team's technicians and Federica planned her participation in some races: "The first race of the season will be in Almeria, then I should fly to Belgium, which makes me particularly happy because I love those types of races and routes," says Federica, who also reveals two other possible pieces of her calendar: Paris-Roubaix and the Vuelta España.
At almost twenty-one years old (she'll turn 21 on January 12th), Federica Venturelli is ready to make the jump to the "first team". "It will be tough because I know the level will rise significantly. The team doesn't put too much pressure on me, and I am happy to continue my growth path as I have always done in various categories. I will try to help the team as much as possible and learn from Elisa Longo Borghini and all my teammates".
Amid countless commitments and training, Venturelli will return home in the next few hours, and she explains why herself: "After finishing the training camp with UAE Team ADQ, I practically rushed to train on the track with the National Team. I will return home at the last moment to spend a few days with my family. Tomorrow evening, we'll have a light dinner on Christmas Eve, while the real celebrations will be on Christmas Day: a classic lunch with the family reunion awaits us," she says and then adds, "Certainly, there will also be a bike ride, that cannot be missed".
And gifts? "What does the talented Federica Venturelli wish to find under the tree for the new year? "Under the tree, I don't expect anything particular, for 2026 I only ask for a season with more tranquility and fewer injuries".
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