Italy took the first rainbow jersey of the 2017 World Championships in Bergen, dominating the junior women’s time trial.
Elena Pirrone took the world title with Alessia Vigilia taking silver. Vigilia was first to start the 16.1km time trial and sat in the race leaders hot seat until last starter Pirrone came home just six seconds faster. Australia’s Madeleine Fasnacht was third.
Italy was hoping that national road race and time trial champion Letizia Paternoster would also perform well, and possibly complete the podium but she was hit by a bike and radio problem during her ride, finishing a disappointing ninth.
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The Italian women’s programme under national coach Dino Salvoldi has produced a string of world champions and successful riders in the last decade. The “junior azure” are enjoying an especially successful season, taking a haul of medals and titles on the track and road.
Pirrone won the European time trial title in Herning in the summer and now has the rainbow jersey too. She has fought her way out of the shadow of Vigilia and Paternoster to confirm that Italy has another talented young rider that should develop and mature, eventually replacing current elite athletes Elisa Longo Borghini and Giorgia Bronzini.
“It’s incredible to win both. I didn’t expect to win the European title but today I was very motivated and knew the course was perfect for me. I’m good on hard course like this because I can climb pretty well,” she said, showing maturity and determination beyond her years.
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