"Milan and Ganna rely on him a lot": National coach reveals the massive impact Elia Viviani had on Italian cycling

The Elimination race at 2025 Track World Championships in Santiago, Chile was the last dance of Elia Viviani. And it was a masterpiece. The Italian made no mistake and remained in control of the action, beating New Zealand's Campbell Stewart and Dutchman Yoeri Havik. Thus, the legend of Italian cycling concludes his successful career with third world title.

"It was truly beautiful," Italian national track coach Marco Villa told Gazzetta about the race. "Elia's qualities and value were unquestionable, it seemed like he had no more surprises to offer us, and yet, what he dreamed of happened. He said, 'It would be wonderful to win the World Championship in the farewell race he chose,' a World Championship race, not just any criterium. He triumphed in an exceptional setting."

The result did not come around on its own accord. On the overloaded transfer market, Viviani had a hard time finding a team for 2025 after three seasons with INEOS Grenadiers. Ultimately, he was provided a lifeline at Lotto. But that contract was only penned in February.

"A year ago, when he was left without a team, he repeated to me, 'I don't want to end up like this, I don't want to announce my retirement like this.' In short, he chose the way to end his career, he designed it the way he wanted. Talk about realizing a dream..."

Looking back, the coach can see that the 36-year-old Viviani has not really changed from when the two first met more than 15 years ago. "He's always been mature. From my first year as a coach, I saw a nineteen-year-old who knew what to do, who knew where he wanted to go."

But Viviani's influence on Italian track cycling has far surpassed simply his successes in the saddle. Next to his own results, Viviani assisted in Italy's rise to become one of the track powerhouses with the likes of Filippo Ganna and Jonathan Milan looking up to the 36-year-old with admiration. And the same applies to Villa.

"Between Omniums, long and short races, and group races, he was a great help, allowing me to build on my experience. I had been appointed coach and hadn't graduated from a school that taught me how to win an Olympics."

"Elia was exceptional because, in addition to his skills, he gave me great feedback. The methodology we have now has become a system for the Italian national team. It was born from blind training sessions with Elia at the Montichiari velodrome, when there was no one else on the track those evenings. Just him."

"Together, we understood what was needed to compare road and track. And I found him to be a very receptive person. It's as if we had trained together; we personalized the training. It was a shared growth. He will remain a point of reference for years."

Even the best Italian cyclists at the moment all respect the values brought by Viviani. "Milan and Ganna also rely on him a lot, they often discuss how to handle certain situations. And I do too. Before the World Championships in Rwanda or the Vuelta a España, they would call us. He will always be one of us."