Share a Brew With… Giorgia Bronzini

By Tara C (Twitter @_CycleGirl_) pelotoncafe recently had the opportunity to chat to [W:Giorgia Bronzini]; the Italian two times World Road Champion. A professional road cyclist since 2003 and currently riding for Diadora-Pasta Zara, Bronzini won the UCI World Road Championships in 2010 & 2011 and is aiming for a third win in Limburg in 2012. Bronzini has an impressive palmares that includes gold medals at both track and road World Championships. At 28 years of age, Bronzini has claimed 67 victories and the [W:2012 London Olympics] will be her third Olympic games in her young career. The achievements of this rising star of both track and road cycling are a feat that many current professional male and female cyclists would love to call their own.

At the World Track Championships in Melbourne, we caught up with a disappointed Bronzini who unfortunately did not qualify for the final of the Points Race in which she claimed victory in Pruszkow, Poland, 2009. Despite this minor setback, she remained optimistic and focused on winning her third UCI World Road Championship in 2012. Although not happy with her performance, Bronzini was more than willing to have a friendly chat and pelotoncafe will be watching closely to see if she can win a third World Championship in Limburg this year, I?m guessing the Italian team has their fingers crossed too.   What is your main goal for the 2012 road cycling season? The London Olympic Game.m>   2012 is an Olympic year. Is winning an Olympic gold medal a higher priority for you than the World Championships or is winning both your ultimate achievement? It will be a dream to win the gold medal at the London Olympics; for now that is my priority. You have won the World Road Championships two years in a row, are you confident that you can win a third? What are your thoughts on the course? I will try but the lap this year will be too hard for me but I will be there to defend my title.

The Italian road team is a team that works well together and also have a lot of fun when off the bike. How important to you were the other riders in the team in you winning the World Championships twice? We are very professional in that race and we respect the rules and we leave the” problems” that can be present during the season and try to keep the one objective (to win the World Championship).   You are also a very successful track rider; 2001 Junior Points Race and 2009 Points Race World Champion.? What are your goals for 2012 on the track? Will you be hoping to ride on the track at the London Olympics? There is no space for the Italian riders on track at Olympics, so after the Worlds Track Championships I will finish riding on the track for the year. ?At the moment women?s cycling seems to be struggling with races being cancelled due to a lack of sponsorship. ?Women?s cycling simply doesn?t get as much attention as men?s cycling. Why do you think this is the case and how do you think this can be improved? I fight for our (women) cycling but it is a hard war! Has this changed since you started racing? Has it become worse or better in the last few years? Yes it has changed, it is better now but we are so far from having the same as the men do. What has been your proudest moment on the bike? For sure the last 2 Worlds but overall 2011 was the proudest moment of my career. ?

What is your long term goal for your cycling career? I would like to try to win a medal at an Olympic Games. Where did your passion for cycling come from? Is there someone who inspired you to become a cyclist? No one person gave me the passion. I decided to start because I was with my father to see children?s race and I saw this strange bike and thought I would like to try it. What is your pre-race preparation; any superstitions or rituals? I just joke and have fun with my team mates… For stress, a smile on my face is the best for me. If at the end of the season I came and spoke to you and asked you how your 2012 Cycling year was for you what would you like to be able to tell me? It?s a surprise…I have my secrets! If you could invite 5 past or present riders to Dinner at your place who would you invite and why and what would you cook? Zilute, Longhin, Bellutti, Rosner, Van Morsel… All because for me they are important riders that gave me important moments and some that give me our experience! For dinner a good glass of wine and some meat and fish, so I can serve good options for choice! And for sure a sweet cake!? pelotoncafe wishes Giorgia Bronzini a successful 2012 and if you want to keep in touch with Giorgia Bronzini you can follow her on twitter or on her Official Website.