Vera Carrara: Focused on Victory
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April 14, 2005
Vera Carrara is passionate about bikes, especially the Bianchi models she's been riding since the age of seven.
Pride and determination: are they important in your career?
Yes, but I keep them in perspective. I mean, I’m proud and like to walk (and pedal) on my own. However, I’m keen to learn from my mistakes. I try to focus my determination on my primary goals and then chase them relentlessly. To use a metaphor from cycling world, I face life both like a long-distance rider and a climber: a continuous pace even on the steepest climbs.
What are the “climbs” of your career?
Those of any athlete who is longing for victory and has to cope with all the circumstances that could stand in his way. When I won the silver medal in the 2004 World points race I thought I wouldn’t let the gold medal slip by again. That very day I started climbing towards Los Angeles and the World podium. The fourth place in the Athens Olympic Games had pushed me to look for revenge… One more challenge!
After winning in Los Angeles you have been attracting attention of the fans and the media. How are you living this moment?
I’m trying to be as calm as possible. I want to avoid the state of euphoria after the victory and act very cautiously. So I’m going on training because that is what I really need. I still have some hidden capacities and want to prove them. However, I must admit it's pleasant to be publicly appreciated for all my efforts in the last years. I wish that my win attracted people’s attention towards both women road cycling and track, both of which have often been neglected.
You clearly believe in hard work, but does luck have any importance in your way of riding?
I prefer to count on myself but I have two lucky coins: pennies from USA and Australia.
Getting back to Los Angeles, did you ever think about giving up?
In the central part of the race I'd taken a lap and 20 points and was leading. However, I knew Slyusareva was regaining one sprint after another. You know, it's not easy to ride when a four-time World champion is chasing you. I stayed in her wheel to the finish. She crossed the line the first but I won the gold medal thanks to the advantage I had taken.
You seem to have developed a fondness for Bianchi. Why?
Because Bianchi was my first bike when I was 7 years old. I can call it my first love. If I think about it today… That bike was such a little thing that it looked like a key-ring but I was so proud of it! I felt strong even when I rode against boys. I believe that bike gave me the confidence to face the opponents who were stronger than me. In other words, it was my secret weapon. Nowadays, I’m still riding a Bianchi but I’m no longer a child. So I have exchanged my “key-ring” for other bikes: the 928 Carbon White adapted for the track and the Dama Bianca for the road.
What do you expect from your bike?
First of all faithfulness and determination, then beauty. I know that a Bianchi bike doesn’t betray me even when subjected to many stresses. And I can be present when the bike frame is assembled, so I can make my requests to the Bianchi mechanics. As I was saying, beauty is important too. The Dama Bianca has a special tribal design: my tattoo provided the inspiration for it.
What are your immediate goals?
I will join the women cycling team Bianchi-Aliverti in the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France. I really hope to give Bianchi new victories this year.