Yesterday in our usual report on the races of the Italian Championship of 50km we flew, leaving only a slight mention of the two surprises of the 10km race, also valid for the title of Italian Champion U18 of 10km road walk.
Let's now look to give the right emphasis to what has happened.
The main protagonists of the day are three:
- Davide Finocchietti back from Buenos Aires where last Monday he obtained an excellent fourth place at the Youth Olympics 2018
- Aldo Andrei, the all-time opponent, who has Gyor (HUN) got the silver at the U18 Europeans of 2" and 47/100
- Daniele Breda, the loose cannon, capable of a 45:20.68 on the 10.000m track walk, but with some technical problems that sometimes make him fall into DQ.
But there is another protagonist who yesterday was the main actor (not very known if not by the insiders) of the 10km race for the title of Italian Champion: in technical jargon it is known as "Rule 230.7(c)", more commonly it is known with the name of "Pit Lane" even if the correct denomination is that of "Penalty Area".
Yesterday in the area of arrival of the Italian Championships 10km located in Piazza del Monte in Reggio Emilia seemed just to be in the boxes of Ferrari and Mercedes (for a Pit Stop) rather than 80m from the arrival of a U18 race walk.
That Davide Finocchietti was tempted by this title of Italian Champion is clear from two things:
- the first the incredible willpower of participation; after arrived at home in Livorno only at 14:30 on Saturday he goes back on the road with his coach at 16.30, regardless the time zone to be disposed of to be present at these Championships
- the second: the determination expressed in the cover photo that says it all by itself.
But this title was escaping from his hands shortly after 5km, when Daniele Breda tried to play his cards by taking the initiative and detaching Aldo Andrei and Davide Finocchietti about ten meters.
The residuals of the comeback from Argentina are felt for Finocchietti, which breaks down and a relentless international jury who labels as three red cards and sends him to take a break of 60" in the infamous "Penalty Area".
When he leaves the other two are far away and perhaps rejoice in the fact that the main opponent has suffered this fate and is almost out of the game: it would be too risky for him to try to return and then play the victory. At any subsequent red card the disqualification would inevitably take place: perhaps it would be better to settle for the bronze.
But fate helps the brave.
The first help comes from the skill of the coach of Finocchietti who had placed a collaborator next to the disqualification board, informing him by phone in real time of what was happening at a technical level.
The second help arrives while Aldo Andrei slowly returns to Daniele Breda: the judges also see in them the same mistakes that a previous lap had found in Finocchietti. The stop in the Penalty Area is also inevitable for them.
The tire change between Ferrari and Mercedes takes place in the "Pit Lane" (this time it is correct to call it that): we leave the readers the choice of who Ferrari is and who the Mercedes.
Instead remains in the boxes Daniele Breda for which while spending the minute of penalty comes the fourth red cards: disqualified !
I would go back and Finocchietti tries to detach Andrei with continuous razors well aware that the opponent in the final sprint would be a very bad customer.
Aldo Andrei trys until the last to catch the all-time opponent in the last 15 meters, but the final photo is implacable, like the jury: victory to Davide Finocchietti.
We wonder if one of them recalls the history of this Rule - was proposed and supported only by the end of 2011 and Italy did the first experimental test in Molfetta (ITA) - having as its most important goal to give young people a second chance before DQ ?
A gold and a silver at an Italian Championship today are on the neck of two athletes thanks to those who at the time wanted and supported this rule.
Yesterday the public in Piazza del Monte really enjoyed: Maranello, the Ferrari headquarters is only about thirty kilometers away.
Perhaps it was the air of Maranello to inspire our protagonists ?
Davide Finocchietti and his coach Massimo Passoni