Claudia Peretti is the new Italian marathon champion, one of the most competitive Italian cyclists in the international World Cup scene. She lived in Omegna for several years, where we had the opportunity to meet her and follow her sporting career up close.
Fresh from winning the Italian title, Peretti talks about her race and the moment of the marathon movement that often accompanies women's cycling.
What is the value of winning the Italian Championship?
"It's something special. For me, the Italian Championship is a race apart: it's a victory you savor immediately, but it lasts an entire season, because you wear that jersey in every race. I knew it would be a tough race and very suited to my characteristics. Knowing the course, I decided to use the front bike."
Will they make you a bike with a special tricolor paint job?
“I hope not… because the last time it happened, it didn’t bring me much luck.”
How did the race go?
"The start was controlled from behind the car. The first climb was wide and paved, so there wasn't much risk of getting stuck.
I decided to set my own pace right away, without looking back or letting the others dictate my pace. Fumagalli was right behind me, but I just focused on pedaling as I'd planned. I don't even know exactly where I dropped off, but already on the first real climb, I managed to clear the gap."
What was the winning strategy?
It was a fairly untechnical race, mostly to be won on the climbs. That's why I chose the front: the goal was to make the difference on the climbs and then manage the advantage.
On the way down, however, I preferred not to take too many risks. In 2023, I had broken down precisely because I had overdone it, and this year I wanted to avoid any problems. I managed it calmly and reached the top with a good margin."
How is the Marathon World Cup changing?
«Once upon a time there was a World Series, a bit like what happened in enduro, but it was not very popular. Things changed when they tried to bring the marathon closer to cross country, including some races in the international UCI circuit.
That project, however, only lasted two years, mainly because the trips were very demanding for teams and companies, without any real impact on their image.
For two years now, there's been the Hero World Cup, so called because it's organized by the same promoters as the Hero Südtirol Dolomites. The races are well organized and there are also interesting new events, although many teams believe the media coverage still needs to be improved.
How do you rate your start to the season?
Overall, I'm pretty happy. This year, the World Cup started in February, so I had to move up my preparations. The feeling is good. In the first race, I had a flat tire and struggled a lot, having to ride for a stretch with a flat tire, which cost me a lot of time.
In Capoliveri, however, even though I was physically fit, I had a bad day. I was very disappointed because I really wanted to do well."
Now Andorra is coming: what do you expect?
"I hope to have a good race. The Italian title will definitely give me extra energy, even though the level is really very high."
Has the level of women's skiing improved in the World Cup?
«Yes, a lot. There are some very strong athletes and the level continues to rise.
Anna Weinbeer, the current World Cup leader, is a special case. She's an outsider because she only earned her elite membership last year, so we don't know her very well yet.
She's lost a lot of weight this year, and we'll have to see if she can maintain this level throughout the season. But she clearly has an incredible engine, because she can maintain speeds that are unthinkable for all the others."
The Italian title represents another important step in Claudia Peretti's growth, now firmly among the protagonists of international marathon running. The Italian victory confirms her solidity in the toughest races and propels her into the second half of the season with even greater confidence.
Now the attention shifts to the World Cup and the trip to Andorra, where the level will be very high but where Peretti will arrive with enthusiasm, awareness and that tricolour jersey which, as she herself says,
