From Oxford Mathematician to Cycling World Record Holder - Vittoria Bussi

00:00:00: I'm kind of obsessive about everything that you choose to do.

00:00:04: If i chose something, it just starts be the reason for life.

00:00:09: She is a PhD mathematician but also first woman who rides over fifty kilometres on a velodrome over time one hour.

00:00:20: What's your connection between maths and sports?

00:00:24: I started quite late cycling at twenty seven years old.

00:00:29: While I was finishing my PhD in mathematics at Oxford, I came into professional sports as a mathematician and scientist.

00:00:39: So I wanted to bring up my own approach or idea... ...I don't want to be scared!

00:00:45: I just wanna do things without being scared about that.

00:00:50: I don't like the word dream….

00:00:51: I speak of mission – have faith with your value even if all around you forces to do something different, Even If You Feel Alone.

00:01:00: It's the only thing that we can tell at end when story finish.

00:01:20: Hello and welcome this episode of Going Mental Bussi, Victoria Bussie She is a PhD mathematician but also first woman to ride over fifty kilometres on a velodrome Over The Time Of One Hour.

00:01:37: quite an achievement.

00:01:38: I think anybody who's ever ridden an hour will realize this is the longest hour in your life, quite possibly.

00:01:46: Welcome to The Show!

00:01:46: Victoria nice to have you.

00:01:48: Hello hello thank you for the nice introduction

00:01:51: An absolute pleasure.

00:01:53: So i would love to start with a traditional start of the show.

00:01:58: When you hear going mental To go mental Somebody has gone... You are going mental.

00:02:03: Does that mean anything to you?

00:02:09: Going mental, yeah.

00:02:10: I think all my life it's going mental somehow.

00:02:15: Yeah i'm kind of obsessive about everything that you choose to do.

00:02:20: So if I chose something It just starts be the reason for life.

00:02:31: I'm very vertical in what i choose.

00:02:33: So at some point, you know it's a line between good obsession and crazy obsession.

00:02:44: to be constructive but also sometimes its like yeah... It is mental!

00:02:52: Yeah..I can very much relate on the obsession and this singular focus one or two things going a little bit too deep.

00:03:03: I almost feel embarrassed to say this, but the one thing that may connect us in terms of your mathematical approaches is that it always helped me tremendously throughout my career to break things down into mathematical fractions.

00:03:19: so whatever the distance was left you know i would say okay i've done seven eighths of the course or something like this.

00:03:24: you know this will forever be my inner thinking.

00:03:28: And I know this is obviously primary school mathematics, but i would love to know for somebody like you who has a true passion.

00:03:36: What's your connection between maths and sports?

00:03:40: Well...I based all my career on Mathematics.

00:03:45: I started quite late cycling at the age of twenty seven years old while finishing my PhD in Mathematics in Oxford.

00:03:55: I'm embarrassed to say it, but we started with Tritron because they come from track and field.

00:04:02: And then at some point i found that was good in cycling But It's very late!

00:04:09: So my approach for the sport is quite different.

00:04:14: I didn't start as a young person in professional cycling... ...but came into professional sports as a mathematician or scientist.

00:04:25: So I wanted to bring my own approach, My own idea.

00:04:30: And that's why somehow i decided To do my own team and be outside the professional team because I want it too.

00:04:41: Do things my way?

00:04:44: When starting in two thousand thirteen maybe was still too early to speak about aerodynamic to speak about artificial intelligence in sports.

00:04:55: So I decided to do, you know my way and yeah...I choose that!

00:05:03: Yeah absolutely i think you are living a lot of triathlon.

00:05:09: well..i wouldn't say age groupers but have lots very ambitious athletes start quite late into the sport kind of.

00:05:17: the whole aerodynamic scene is becoming so incredibly popular.

00:05:22: But before we go there, I would actually love to know that your personal story which you shared in twenty-twelve when your father passed away whilst you were finishing your PhD at Oxford and i really would love to see how this was something sport perhaps or into more professional sport and how it changed what you see as, What matters?

00:05:51: Yeah.

00:05:51: It's uh wow we start with difficult question.

00:05:54: um why I think Um?

00:05:59: Uh i mean at the beginning um I didn't See The.

00:06:05: My father was the reason I started sagging.

00:06:07: it took a little bit of time to have consciousness Of that.

00:06:12: I think what happened is that in two thousand eleven actually one year before, while it was again in Oxford my mother called me and said your father he's having a stroke.

00:06:28: And you know It was like half of the brain away for an explosion off this vein.

00:06:36: so i came to Rome My city And my father was still alive, but in a terrible condition.

00:06:46: When you are at twenty-five years old and from one side... You felt like the head of the world because you just won a scholarship in Oxford The best university ever in the world.

00:07:03: It's your first time away, it's in UK.

00:07:08: that from point of view as an Italian is like very cool.

00:07:12: And on the other side life say you don't have anything in control.

00:07:17: I didn't even had a chance to say something.

00:07:20: my father and Eva replied he was not just a senior with his hand asking if he understood or not.

00:07:29: And I had to reply some question in that ear, like do we do dialysis maybe conscious person?

00:07:40: Because you know it's half brain person.

00:07:44: so its very difficult ethical questions.

00:07:47: and i decided go on with my PhD.

00:07:50: So It was a year between Italy not just Rome, but everywhere in a hospital where my father was transported because economically it's heavy for an hospital so he keeps moving and UK.

00:08:10: So I remember that year having a shower was a privilege because i didn't have time to be at the hospital with my dad or in PhD studio with my supervisor to have a weekly meeting because I had to produce paper.

00:08:27: To publish new piece of mathematics in Oxford, which is very demanding and it's fun!

00:08:32: Because the best thing for me always comes from the worst part of life... I don't know why but something horrible happens on one side when i go really down.

00:08:46: I don't know what happened, but in that year i had my best publication as a mathematician and In the meantime.

00:08:54: My father passed away it was march two thousand twelve when i came back to oxford With a lot of published paper with you know division over good career mathematics hungry for life.

00:09:08: That's was You know bed with me.

00:09:14: Nothing was the same anymore, because I realized that death exists.

00:09:20: So when people say we are going to die maybe they don't realize.

00:09:27: it's intrinsically true... ...that time is not in our control and this is like heavy or hard.

00:09:37: to have this consciousness This deep consciousness because you realize that the only thing that you have in your hands is the present Real.

00:09:47: now when you say I do later, it's arrogant.

00:09:50: Because you don't have control of leader.

00:09:55: So This is the fun part of this story.

00:09:58: I took my bike just because it was really noxious for everyone on a bike, they do a lot of tritons... I come from track and field as i said but not even national or regional i would say.

00:10:15: And I stopped at an age of twenty more-or less.

00:10:20: So I know how to run so I kind of know how swim.

00:10:26: And then I found that with the biker was really good, because it was like pedaling angry.

00:10:37: Angry against life... I lost hope!

00:10:43: I couldn't forgive myself for my choice and could keep asking Was i right when said yes or not?

00:10:53: to some question, like should we move your father?

00:10:57: Should do the dialysis.

00:10:59: Should take this or morphine or not.

00:11:03: I couldn't forgive myself and only way was by pushing on a bike alone.

00:11:11: i could be in peace with my self The kind of lucidity that you miss when under fatigue I could have a dialogue with myself, everything started like this.

00:11:27: Wow!

00:11:27: Okay yes that is very deep but it does fascinate me how you are able to metabolize these kind of pain and turn into forward motion.

00:11:41: because i can very much relate to life coming at and being forced to make a decision, And I often ask myself why can't i just turn something positive out of my own kind of momentum?

00:12:01: What do you think it is in your approach or mindset that allows you find the strength To let something grow rather than fall into a heap and be sad or accept that life is incredibly tough, things happen to us which are not fair.

00:12:23: I would say... ...I try always to change the point of view That if i feel sad about my life.. ..i don't go anywhere And im just losing time.

00:12:39: Time for me as said was at some points the central concept of my life, it's everything that I don't have in control.

00:12:48: It's like... The only thing is really not having control.

00:12:52: time goes.

00:12:53: so i just try to take a chance and an opportunity for every moment of my live.

00:13:00: So this is my mantra Have An Opportunity Every Second I Live!

00:13:06: So every second has an opportunity be better To feel happy.

00:13:11: You know, happiness is like that.

00:13:14: It goes... you can say your centralised or you'd say sorry my English isn't very good so... Not

00:13:21: our balanced store whatever your centralise

00:13:24: makes sense?

00:13:24: So if we have a control of debts for quite long period time but happiness If you think when I'm happy it's just short because on the peak of the mountain You don't stay for long.

00:13:44: In my mind now there is the question, oh how do you feel when your broke a record?

00:13:50: And I say said because it's gone Because happiness is so short!

00:13:55: You know...you break the record then second after and now was the sense of my life.

00:14:01: So every second is an opportunity.

00:14:03: that this kind what I do.

00:14:05: I agree and this is actually, i wanted to get to this a little bit later but now that you've touched on it...I mean..you had four successful world record attempts if I'm not mistaken!

00:14:14: And.... You have few who didn't go your way as well.

00:14:19: Namely ..you've had the day before successful attempt which did'nt work out very well .And I would love know exactly how did you feel when you got versus ...when you didnt get?

00:14:34: Failure, it's something I worked a lot in my life.

00:14:38: because let me go back.

00:14:41: A little bit in my adolescence... ...I come from family where my education was that i took nine out of ten as a vote at school.

00:14:52: and he asked me is there anyone who took ten?

00:14:57: So like nine is good votes but the first question isn't Oh, good girl.

00:15:03: It just anyone else took ten so more than you.

00:15:08: or if I as truck and field athlete was like doing cross-country?

00:15:14: And i remember a day when I won the race.

00:15:18: it didn't say anything to me.

00:15:20: my father did not say anything.

00:15:21: he said that the second one is quite close with us.

00:15:26: It should be like very far away, you shouldn't win by a lot.

00:15:31: So I came as an athlete and person in my life was ambitious but never enough for me to feel that way.

00:15:42: I always felt I could do more which is good than bad because it looks really long head in your life, you look really ambitious.

00:15:54: But also when it looks so far away... You have to understand that failure is part of the process.

00:16:05: and this again another thing people keep saying failure's a part of their process but then make these real processes difficult.

00:16:18: And when I failed my record, that was a mistake that made me growing so fast because i realized that my mathematical model was perfect but not in line with the physiology.

00:16:42: to be brief, the first attempt that I made self-founded because i couldn't find any sponsor and... Because it was my first thing in cycling.

00:16:55: In a paper that could break the record ,I put myself into very aerodynamic position but constrain in this position that my diaphragm couldn't be relaxed.

00:17:13: So after forty minutes I start to get an inflammation, the diaphragm starts to suffer.

00:17:20: so it's a mathematical model which was perfect and my aerodynamic coefficient was perfect but not sustainable.

00:17:28: This is the best lesson you can learn Nowadays, everyone speaks about AI and everybody is scared or too optimistic.

00:17:40: But the real thing that it's always a compromise between the maths and reality.

00:17:47: So failure was for me an opportunity to learn And start actually my career.

00:17:55: Well you said earlier in twenty thirteen maybe The science and mathematics wasn't there.

00:18:00: but For me personally thinking back on time there also wasn't a sharing of knowledge.

00:18:07: It was everybody working towards breaking records or athletes willing to share their knowledge and experiences, it's still very much like I do my thing – this is my secret!

00:18:19: And…I hope nobody finds out...and if they find out then you're going to have to pull every little string to get these.

00:18:26: so nowadays its probably quite common knowledge that you need balance the aerodynamics versus the position in triathlon more so because you still have to run afterwards.

00:18:36: But I really am curious to find out whether for you, the mathematical models that you speak through and the numbers and the calculations help you sleep the night before the race having ticked every box?

00:18:53: Having this safety blanket?

00:18:56: Yeah!

00:18:56: For sure it helps a lot.

00:19:00: I worked a lot on this because for cycling, in professional cycling you have to communicate four months in advance.

00:19:09: To the UCI, The International Cycling Union that do want to break record.

00:19:15: so months and months in advanced.

00:19:17: also when you find... When you search for the team around you You need to say loud!

00:19:22: iWantToBreakAwardRecord The expectation just make a lot of pressure on you.

00:19:29: So, when I get used to things in uh, my strategy for two years because I prepared the record for three hours was to have one hour record weekly.

00:20:03: So each week i have a simulation of-of the day of race so that... ...I knew!

00:20:12: That day everything was automatic as much as possible and it would be like perfectly conscious The right person in the right place, at that moment.

00:20:25: and so I need that kind of automatization.

00:20:29: So it was very hard for my team mentally to have a bad day repeated every week.

00:20:40: If you think about that it's crazy when I say to my coach, to my nutritionist and everyone around me.

00:20:47: To my psychologist they said wow are we sure want do that?

00:20:53: And then yeah...I don't wanna be scared.

00:20:57: many athletes say i dont'want anymore.

00:20:59: the hour its the most scary thing of life but just wanted to do things without being scared.

00:21:07: There's

00:21:09: a few things we need to unpack here.

00:21:11: So the first one is for anybody who has never time-trailed for an hour and done all out effort, it doesn't count.

00:21:20: in the same way I think maybe Graham Aubrey was said that It almost like dying but you don't quite go on other side.

00:21:29: And i've done this In my life probably less times than record attempts but it is excruciating.

00:21:38: I've never had time pass so very slowly, But i find interesting that you chose the way of repeated.

00:21:48: what's where am looking for?

00:21:50: Repeated...that you expose yourself repeatedly to the fear if I'm not mistaken.

00:21:59: It's not the physiology you're necessarily after, because I don't think physiologically it is necessary to do a one hour all-out time trial every week.

00:22:10: but for you this was definitely psychological measurement right?

00:22:15: Yeah!

00:22:16: But also i took the chance of having many tests like...I tested everything from nutrition protocol to the mechanical part on the bike, choose of chain rings, sprocket chains and several positions.

00:22:36: takes a lot of time.

00:22:37: It's not just one day in the wind tunnel, I heard about professional sagas that say they prepare the hour record with just one thing in the Wind Tunnel and this is not right to me.

00:22:49: okay you can have One Day In The Wind Tunner but then you have several tests on the Velodrome.

00:22:53: But also need try that configuration for an hour.

00:22:58: it isn't five minutes that raise and repeat because if you have a long crank, You understand after maybe forty-forty five minutes.

00:23:09: If it's the good choice or not?

00:23:11: So every every two choices I tested for one hour.

00:23:16: Every you know... every teeth on the chain ring i tested like..I mean....i had a limit obviously from this to that.

00:23:27: so i didn't test fifty ratio gear, but I mean probably ten fifteen.

00:23:39: So it was a good opportunity to learn.

00:23:41: now all right

00:23:42: i know A lot of listeners are quite geeky on the aerodynamics so please just take us into The opportunity Of what you think is or What actually not?

00:23:51: What do You Think would work for you the best in terms of crank length?

00:23:55: and also you Know the actual physical the gear ratio that worked for you.

00:24:03: Do remember

00:24:05: or did it change?

00:24:06: No, no... It changes over several records.

00:24:12: I did.

00:24:13: The thing is everything came from when I started cycling quite late so i didn't have coordination.

00:24:26: To be a track cyclist, I don't know if you ever watch a track race but they spin the leg really fast.

00:24:34: They can go more than one hundred... One hundred is not even high.

00:24:40: as a cadence The sprinter can go one-hundred thirty and so on.

00:24:46: But i couldn't do that.

00:24:48: So it was always for big gear long crank And also..i dont have mobility at all.

00:24:56: I'm not patient enough to do yoga, to do stretching and this kind of thing.

00:25:01: so my mobility improved but it's not that much.

00:25:05: So i was always with a really high stack so many spacers under the elbow rest.

00:25:12: so i can be you know have big angle hip angle rank and big years.

00:25:25: And also, I mean it is very personal because if you want to do this You have also to accept a lot of strength training and low cadence effort who are too much low cadence efforts but It depends on the person.

00:25:46: for me was everything started Because i don't have coordination.

00:25:49: so its not something

00:25:51: born out of the constraint, not having enough flexibility.

00:25:57: It's fascinating because there are so many ways to do things and there're so many approaches... And to realize that we all individual is probably for me one of most beautiful thing in sport Because you can actually carve your own way.

00:26:12: You have to invest this time.

00:26:15: But what I find curious Is that you chose To go your onway always.

00:26:21: You chose that this is your project and you got into the details, And you didn't allow any constraints in terms of material.

00:26:29: by joining a team.

00:26:31: So...you were able to test every single piece which makes The Project X amount bigger!

00:26:37: If YOU are doing all the calculations I was always fortunate To have scientists and bike manufacturers.

00:26:43: We tried to build something together.

00:26:45: But what do you think Was so important for you?

00:26:50: to choose this freedom over the easy way or easier way.

00:26:55: Freedom, it's everything.

00:26:57: for me It was not about... ...the number of kilometers that I broke but is a story i can tell To young people now when they need to choose away in life and society, social media now tell us that we have to follow a standard.

00:27:25: We had to follow model.

00:27:27: when I started cycling they told me you have to do this way because it's here is done in these ways.

00:27:33: so if too follow this path no other paths and unicity is our...is the most precious thing that we ever.

00:27:44: When i didn't find sponsor because their record was The first thing I wanted to do in my career, and obviously it's funny.

00:27:51: I didn't find any sponsor that came for me the anti-doping commissary or whatever... ...I thought that invest on myself was the best thing i could have done!

00:28:02: I just want to tell a story.

00:28:04: not because is uh.. My story its'the best story in world It´s another different story.

00:28:11: When again when I started cycling I did the fiandre Flounder, how do you say in English?

00:28:17: Tour of Flanders?

00:28:18: yeah.

00:28:18: Because I had a big motor so i can push on the pedal really hard.

00:28:24: So when I was at stage with the team very beginning In professional teams they said oh are ready to do this.

00:28:33: And then found myself alone because everyone looked me in strange way.

00:28:39: It's new one and quite funny on bike Really stressed in the Peloton, I couldn't stay inside a bunch because for me it was like something that... In a rational way wasn't possible to be.

00:28:55: with two hundred riders at fifty k per hour minimum approaching you know the climb really steep.

00:29:02: Cobblestones?

00:29:03: With cobblestones.

00:29:04: so um i felt so alone.

00:29:06: everyone looked at me like saw you now Like she's different You Know.

00:29:11: and And So I started to say I had to find a way to be, um... To never feel alone.

00:29:21: And so i started working deeply with myself.

00:29:27: Ourself is the person that we have to be most of time in our life.

00:29:33: So We need to find ways for ourselves In a good way.

00:29:39: and there were again many times that I felt so alone in a bunch of people.

00:29:45: And our record somehow was the way for me because it wasn't long on track, aerodynamically curious.

00:29:54: my position is famous to be really low.

00:29:57: i don't watch.

00:29:58: head just watched black line and something happened.

00:30:04: not as a mathematician but Ciao World, I just stay with Mocha and go this for one hour.

00:30:17: And when I raise up my head after the hour... ...I'm another person because i had a dialogue with myself for an hour?

00:30:25: I don't know if it's plain in me so please interrupt me!

00:30:30: No no no.. I am absolutely fascinated.

00:30:33: This is really beautiful approach Because exactly like you say we spend so much time ourselves Why is it so hard to be nice to ourselves?

00:30:43: You know, I have this conversation especially in sports.

00:30:47: there are so much emotions sometimes involved and i've talked with other athletes as well because many times was very unkind when things didn't go right.

00:31:02: quite frankly speaking, you lose your shit.

00:31:04: And this was something that happens all the time and I find it so interesting that you managed to focus all of these energy on The Black Line which brings me a quote from yours where said...

00:31:31: Another difficult question.

00:31:33: Pain is something that it's so difficult to accept because I mean, for me was always a dialogue with myself when the pain approach and your head say stop!

00:31:49: Stop you know?

00:31:50: That voice that forced you to stop but... I'm not saying that, and never stopped a training.

00:32:01: Uh...I am NOT saying that i finished all my training because sometimes may add one over my physical uh..my body.

00:32:12: but the thing that really saved me many times is to be kind with myself And start our conversation.

00:32:22: Okay we want to stop.

00:32:23: why?

00:32:24: so okay you're telling me You know that voice.

00:32:27: it's something like There is a double of you that say, stop.

00:32:33: And it's like every second says Stop!

00:32:37: Stop!

00:32:38: You're not lucid in the moment because your under fatigue maybe are doing what to max effort and just don't have enough oxygen for something like conversation.

00:32:53: I really try this conversation.

00:32:56: I really tried to ask why i have to stop.

00:33:00: So what's happening?

00:33:01: I'm dying because there is something dangerous.

00:33:08: The thing that happened at the beginning of my career was something curious, a national time trial championship in Italy... ...I was first one!

00:33:24: you know, the time was going to win.

00:33:27: And then I had fear of winning and stopped... ...and I quit the race!

00:33:34: This is something like a monster for me when sometimes i'm scared to win.

00:33:43: it's still working on this.

00:33:45: When I start with really high expectation The only focus that I want to win, well...I'm not successful.

00:33:58: My successful record were because i was thinking about something different.

00:34:03: Not just broke the record but tell a story Telled something.

00:34:08: The first record for my father Was show.

00:34:13: as woman that could be manager of team I said no to manager speak with sponsor.

00:34:23: I wanted to do this as a scientist, in an unconventional way.

00:34:28: so there was the story around... The Fifty Wall.

00:34:32: something different proved that women can break that wall.

00:34:37: and then when i did Individual Poor Suite it's another story!

00:34:41: I wanted show.

00:34:43: also.

00:34:43: woman can hold both record at same time not just men and to show that physiologically published papers in sports are not for women, there is only a white man tool.

00:35:01: That's every methodology.

00:35:03: every protocol is applied too... And it isn't right!

00:35:08: So the story is always something bigger than just thinking about winning.

00:35:14: I like that.

00:35:14: Hold the thought for a second, because... ...I was talking to Cassia and Nivia Dona Fini about exactly this difference.

00:35:21: you know?

00:35:23: Why there is such big differences especially in cycling with men and women's events?

00:35:29: Because in triathlon we are not used to it.

00:35:31: It has always been same distance mostly on the same day Same prize money all these kinds of things.

00:35:39: Did that story just coming back to finish on the topic of you needing a story, to justify your success or to distract you?

00:35:51: Or to focus your energy on something positive.

00:35:55: did That story have to change or did You find a narrative that you could stick with?

00:36:01: when you said you wanted To prove that you as a woman were able...you know..to break The fifty kilometer mark?

00:36:08: Because that's another thing I actually just realized is in this hour record, it's the only discipline in the world where you are not racing a distance.

00:36:18: You're racing at time and It's very...it quite curious because any other time trial distance your always raising a distance than never for our time.

00:36:30: So was there narrative that you found?

00:36:32: That still works or something that can continuously apply?

00:36:35: Yeah i think its about life.

00:36:37: every Every chapter, every piece of life has a story.

00:36:43: Now I have another story for example... Yeah!

00:36:47: Every record can tell a story because when you start to work on your goal You need to cancel the word sacrifice.

00:37:05: So, you don't have to speak about.

00:37:06: I'm sacrificing my time to train.

00:37:20: everyone, if I go to a training camp my cats come with me and i go with them in the mountain so they can go up two trees.

00:37:30: we have a walk.

00:37:31: They enjoy the process In another way.

00:37:33: My husband lived his own story.

00:37:39: I think it's important because help you to don't say, ''I'm sacrificing my life for a

00:37:49: goal.''.

00:37:49: This is... I don't like this.

00:37:51: I don''t like athletes.

00:37:51: that says that It´s a choice.

00:37:54: So we choose to have our priority.

00:37:57: We chose to have a scale First second third scale of value.

00:38:05: That can change in time But For the moment i choose that.

00:38:10: so at first there are these and the second is, you have to construct.

00:38:17: You also need something that I learned in this process of being a leader – what leadership means?

00:38:26: It's not saying people do it because we have to record them or involve them with something big so they can be better persons.

00:38:37: They take the chance to leave records people, it's leadership to me.

00:38:46: So this is something I learned... ...I didn't have enough money to pay people most of the people that worked for The Hour Record, The Individual Pursuit Record working for free what they gave them.

00:38:59: It's a story..it's an opportunity To be better somehow in their own way

00:39:07: Maybe even sense of fulfillment?

00:39:09: There are some things.

00:39:12: We spoke about happiness earlier, but I find fulfilment something far more worth chasing because it really is so much more inclusive of all the highs and lows that come with chasing an audacious goal.

00:39:27: That's what comes down to when you can involve somebody and make them feel alive in a sense quite unique.

00:39:37: privilege which... Brings me back to the beginning of you being a leader.

00:39:43: your husband Rocco.

00:39:44: You just mentioned him Was sort of the one who nudged you into cycling and it was from what I read within two years that you said, you want to Go after a world record now?

00:39:59: I have a lot of friends That start cycling And the best they are chasing up to two years is maybe a Strava come on their local driveway.

00:40:07: But this is a really audacious goal.

00:40:09: And maybe the first time you had to take this role as a leader, consciously or not?

00:40:14: What was the outside reaction and how did you deal with

00:40:17: it?".

00:40:36: pulling out Mathematical Academy for a moment and I go for something that is not the job, have to put a lot of money in this.

00:40:45: Society say you'll work it up or quit.

00:40:54: when someone changes life what's the income?

00:41:07: So this question about you do for money, what's the income of doing these?

00:41:15: They don't pay enough in university.

00:41:18: You go to professional cycling and want to earn money with social media.

00:41:24: so I changed all my company around me.

00:41:34: Investigate in myself what it means to change life, To be brave enough.

00:41:41: You know I was a twenty seven and actually i Was going from money to non-money.

00:41:49: so It's like you need to explain What is the drive?

00:41:57: And Yeah, I think its deep consciousness of that sentence as said at the beginning about time If you feel something, you cannot postpone.

00:42:08: So I just took the chance to do this and it's not so dangerous...I can go back too much if something goes wrong!

00:42:33: Rocco lived with me, the thing... With my father.

00:42:37: So I think not directly but indirectly.

00:42:42: he felt that same sensation about time when you have a conversation with another person it can be last-time if we had conversations with him or her this action in your life.

00:42:56: so he understood and he approved.

00:43:03: It was a little bit too long, because after the third record when I said that want to do The Fourths it's like a little annoying.

00:43:09: But

00:43:12: it is what you...I don't know if becomes part of package but something hard let go and You did try to Let Go for A Little Bit.

00:43:28: You retired For few weeks or months And you said, I'm trying to look for the exact quote because it was so beautiful.

00:43:40: It's too great of a self-inflicted punishment... ...for you to leave the bike behind?

00:43:46: Please explain this to me!

00:43:48: Yeah after the fifty kilometre record in twenty three i wanted to approach the individual pursuit.

00:43:59: For people that are not used with cycling in Udwell Poursuit, it was a discipline for women three kilometres.

00:44:08: You start on the other side of the track and you go to the first one which finishes the three-kilometre win or wins the first that approaches another one.

00:44:26: So it's physiologically is very similar to eight hundred meter in running.

00:44:32: Um, so when I was doing but

00:44:37: as much longer low than eight hundred.

00:44:38: sorry to drop.

00:44:39: yeah It's a in term of time

00:44:42: and the eight hundred eight hundred is somewhere around two minutes And this would be three three-and-a

00:44:48: half

00:44:48: something like this

00:44:49: Three minutes is around three minute and fifteen.

00:44:52: So it's much more similar to when I was young, I wanted you do the eight hundred but people always said no your body is for five thousand on a truck.

00:45:04: so i couldn't never do properly train on eight hundred meter even if like alot.

00:45:12: And that was too young to say No!

00:45:13: I want to do this...I don't mind I liked that thirty seven, I said okay now i want to have this once because inside it happened the same.

00:45:25: so the individual push with something that is in the european world championship.

00:45:30: It's not like The Hour Records.

00:45:32: So you have a call from the national team To go for European.

00:45:37: he was an olympic distance also For the an olympic performance how do we say?

00:45:44: An olympics race discipline

00:45:45: yeah

00:45:47: discipline until London, two thousand twelve.

00:45:51: So I really wanted to have a chance and yeah it was really hard because had to learn how to start on the track which is in a velodrome which is forty-two degree inclined.

00:46:09: your bike is fixed and you have a big gear, so go from zero to sixty kph in less than twenty seconds.

00:46:18: It was really hard but I had only one year to try because after that year the discipline changed it from three to four kilometers to unify the distance with men.

00:46:30: So i said this last year can do ,so I've got just one year and wasn't enough.

00:46:38: So I missed the record and I said, okay.

00:46:41: I'm going to retire because i don't want to do a world record as first one for the four K Because it would be too easy because he's on.

00:46:50: new discipline is a new distance?

00:46:52: Uh...I mean not non-new Discipline It's a New Distance of The Same Disciplines.

00:46:56: But I Don't Want To Be You Know To Have A Easy World Record Because I'm Just The First One.

00:47:02: Um so I don't Want to Train For That.

00:47:05: uh..It's Done I failed, let's do something different.

00:47:08: But then there were many racing.

00:47:10: the four K and actually one of the best rider in UK at the moment... The best track cyclist of like many years now set a really nice time And they said wow this is an opportunity for me!

00:47:28: Then i started to train again and took also the opportunity to do it on the same week.

00:47:35: another hour record to prove that in the same period of time, The female body can sustain that effort.

00:47:44: because I think Grimoire Bordman, Filippo Ganna are riders who all did both records at the same time.

00:47:53: So it's like the endurance in track cycling but at the antipodes so the shortest and longest.

00:48:00: You don't post it in the hour and I wanted to show that.

00:48:04: And yeah, like one year ago now?

00:48:09: It's actually a year ago!

00:48:11: Yeah i think yesterday... One year ago.

00:48:13: so happy record day!

00:48:18: It is quite fascinating but you proved this already with your twenty eighteen world record attempt.

00:48:27: And we're basically the day before you did a max effort, it didn't quite come to sustain for the hour but the next day You broke our world record which physiologically scientifically I don't know from training perspective is definitely not the recommended way.

00:48:53: I mean, there are a lot of ways that you can do something but i don't think anybody would recommend to do a forty-four minute all out full gas time trial day before over world record right?

00:49:04: And they're going so much planning and science and evidence into this... That it really makes me curious as what you think mentally allows us Go and break with all of the preparation, to break with perfection.

00:49:26: And show

00:49:26: resilience."

00:49:28: Well I have to say that... That day when i mean those two days When I did uh forty-five or forty four minutes our record pays then an hour record I found something interesting in myself.

00:49:46: So I go really well.

00:49:48: if the day before a competition, i have a really big activation of my heart rate.

00:49:53: I can sustain more fatigue leg than an art that goes high really fast.

00:50:02: so like uh we...I mean this is something you're right!

00:50:08: It's probably not written everywhere.

00:50:12: it was just personally to me.

00:50:14: I don't know if you have an experience that you approach a race, and your heart rate is just going really fast.

00:50:26: I mean, for a time try it's not an hour.

00:50:40: A time trial that is like high intensity at thirty-forty minutes... ...I can do even about two max effort the day before because i just want to activate the heart rate and i can sustain the fatigue in my leg much better than this sensation of the heart that is very high.

00:51:02: so i like to be activated But I think it's something like very personal in my life.

00:51:07: When i'm too rested, I am lazy.

00:51:10: Yeah...I always feel that ...in the adrenaline mode.. ..i can perform really good at work and train.

00:51:24: Obviously you need to control that.

00:51:27: Sometimes.

00:51:28: many times my HRV was red But I think it's, as i said...I was also really younger.

00:51:40: It was my first experience and he was a self-founded uptempt.

00:51:48: I had a lot of pressure because I didn't have any more money.

00:51:56: For that, it's for dead.

00:51:58: I'm so happy but i think have to sell my car.

00:52:01: this was... So had a lot of pressure and was much more than just a race.

00:52:06: It was as we said before Okay!

00:52:09: I mean okay..I was leader in the sense of leadership In the sense involvement of team or people around me.

00:52:17: We are friend My husband And so on But I also conscious That was very heavy economically.

00:52:26: Yeah, and again you show that... You can use this as a fuel.

00:52:32: Right?

00:52:32: For you keep going!

00:52:34: And I've seen many-many...I mean i call them Tuesday World Champions who are able to perform incredibly well.

00:52:42: but as soon the pressure is increasing there's a real race day coming As there is outside stress coming.. ...i wonder if you have conscious tactic that would be willing share of how you stay rational in this moment.

00:52:56: Is that your scientific mindset, maybe?

00:52:58: That you are just approaching things by okay trying to control the controllables?

00:53:03: or is there something else that really?

00:53:07: it sounds like almost... You need it!

00:53:10: To get into gear Like..You NEED the outside pressure Or you need some kind of adversity to get very best out yourself.

00:53:18: This

00:53:18: is true.

00:53:19: As I said at some point in this conversation, the best thing in my life happened when i realized that... ...I cannot go more down than that.

00:53:30: So really on the bottom of everything and then something special happens.

00:53:36: You need to realize how important are things A little bit before you can lose them.

00:53:46: How many times?

00:53:47: I mean when we were young with my husband, with Rocco.

00:53:53: We were fighting and said oh i'm leaving home!

00:53:56: And then...we spend some days alone?

00:54:02: Then you really realize okay this story can finish.

00:54:04: so..I really love him.

00:54:06: I need to come

00:54:06: back.".

00:54:07: So it's these kind of things but more professionally speaking creating a routine, a habit.

00:54:20: So I know that that Sunday there is the race but i lived that day so many times before and you could say okay this is for the hour record but how can i do it?

00:54:33: For our normal race?

00:54:36: um...I think there are many ways to simulate the race.

00:54:41: Um..to me also for time trial on the road.

00:54:44: yeah....i simulate everything.

00:54:47: I know the start time.

00:54:50: so i take a piece of road in the middle of nowhere with uh, The roller.

00:54:56: I do the warm-up on the roller...I go with the car and then I jump on the bike as Rocko to follow him with the Car.

00:55:03: we tried the radio because for example sometimes I'm used to train With music And then On the race..i hear the voice Of someone In the car behind me, and I'm not used to that.

00:55:18: So things you're not use-to do are dangerous because it's something... You realize this is a day when i don't know but never live these days.

00:55:31: so i am scared of being an alert.

00:55:35: But if we try everything even the radio or voice Someone that speaks to you when you ride the race, it's very important.

00:55:46: So just repeat and repeat a repeat

00:55:50: Yeah And I guess never be afraid of what may happen.

00:55:57: because yeah again You said before but trying to control everything is difficult.

00:56:06: i mean It´s huge cognitive task really to be everywhere at the same time.

00:56:11: I'm really grateful, my best friend was there throughout my career and he was taking care of all the little details.

00:56:18: so sometimes i always said you know...I have the legs..he has a brain!

00:56:21: So I can just keep going in focus on all things and try to be resilient incase something happens....i cannot plan for it and that would.

00:56:34: How do you react when the planning or spreadsheet and all these things don't quite come together?

00:56:41: I'm very severe with myself.

00:56:48: With other people, if they fail... ...I am always a little bit more kind.

00:56:52: But for me it can really destroy itself.

00:56:57: And again i work so much to accept failure in the sense, if this word ever makes a sense.

00:57:11: I always try to focus on that opportunity... ...to learn something.

00:57:19: It's so difficult and still working on these but it is all in process of being good with myself because you feel alone when things are not going well, you also aren't kind with yourself.

00:57:39: So... You need at least to be kind because all the rest of the world don't look as a winner or loser.

00:57:51: so it's big process.

00:57:55: and again every time I think about failure It can happen when you think big in your life.

00:58:06: I'm used to thinking big dream, big goal and big mission... I don't like the word dream because it's always impossible.

00:58:21: They are really near us as a world.

00:58:23: but yeah..I speak about missions Because i want feel right person at that moment.

00:58:32: And when I start to think about a mission, I have to think of failure also.

00:58:39: Like every day there is moments that I think what will happen if I fail?

00:58:47: I keep really focused on the process and even if i fail these days it's not lost.

00:58:55: because

00:58:58: Yeah, I mean it's really fascinating and i can really relate on so many levels because exactly what you say there.

00:59:04: It is kind of daunting right?

00:59:05: And in the end... ...I've talked to a few athletes.

00:59:09: we have always said that at the end when its successful.. ..it isn't like oh thank god this was amazing!

00:59:16: Its just thanks God We didn´t fail.

00:59:18: There will be so much truth for this If I could share from my experience.

00:59:22: What helped me is a similar motto except it's probably more poster, momentum-morry.

00:59:31: Remember that your time is finite and having this opportunity is actually privilege.

00:59:36: And at the very end of my career made me realize okay... This isn't just fine It doesn't really matter Like its super cool when works but also super cool.

00:59:51: you even tried But yeah, I don't know.

00:59:55: This was something.

00:59:57: maybe before we go i would like to know if you have any tips for the listeners who might Have a mission.

01:00:09: Who?

01:00:10: Might have an audacious goal.

01:00:13: How do you go from today and just starting and Just working towards Something really big?

01:00:21: Wow, I should have prepared something but the first thing like from my inside without thinking much is when you choose a mission.

01:00:35: please stay faith.

01:00:38: Have faith with your own value even if all around you forces to do something different?

01:00:46: a story that I hide because i did my own way and when were the Italian team, I couldn't do it on its own.

01:00:56: And they felt constrained.

01:00:59: so added sensation at that jersey... So important jersey!

01:01:02: The blue jersey of the italian team was not mine.. I couldnt feel properly mine Because It wasn´t part Of A process That I created.

01:01:17: So, everyone that starts a mission is the best thing to create something with your own value and ideas.

01:01:27: It's not because all around you forces you do something.

01:01:32: so you need to be faithful in yourself even if it's different or alone.

01:01:39: Even when we don't feel normal We can only tell At the end, when the story finish you can never have a story to tell.

01:01:51: That's beautiful Vittoria!

01:01:53: I am truly inspired.

01:01:54: it was really nice... ...to hear your story but also the perspective that you offer and.. ..the ways you think about is really unique And i think quite beautiful.

01:02:08: We've got closing tradition here The same way as we started.

01:02:13: I would love to know When Was The Last Time You Went Mental.

01:02:18: Well, I think even today there is like if you... If understand correctly being mental.

01:02:30: for you it's something like being obsessive or what do mean by being mentally properly.

01:02:39: No, for me it's really interesting because to go mental in English is completely open.

01:02:45: To go mental sometimes when you do a crazy trick skiing people will be like oh that's mental.

01:02:51: or you go party until six o'clock in the morning It was totally mental

01:02:56: Or

01:02:59: your bike computer isn't working and have complete explosion.

01:03:03: For me, this was in the beginning very times when I went mental.

01:03:06: So it can be anything really where you are just consumed completely and ripped out of your day to do something crazy or out-of-your routine... ...to do something positive negative?

01:03:19: It could be anything whatever you feel like!

01:03:21: Yeah so i was right.

01:03:24: okay because as i said every day that kind things put my adrenaline really high.

01:03:34: I am addicted to that kind of adrenaline.

01:03:39: At the moment, i'm in the mountains and at some point it was snowing.

01:03:42: The weather is crazy in main mountain but... ...I really had to feel something I had to oppose from job And I took a bike.

01:03:52: It's very cold with snow and low clouds alpha hour and that's it.

01:04:05: So I just search for adrenaline, i think its want to feel alive in very strange condition...I mean..i try not be dangerous obviously you know.

01:04:18: so im just something thats ever sense.

01:04:23: but yeah i just wanna do things that are not on the planet at some point what I feel in that moment.

01:04:33: So, just do an all-out effort in the two thousand meters of snow or shower and go back to work.

01:04:42: but it felt good!

01:04:44: What a way to go.

01:04:45: mental again so much admiration Vittoria.

01:04:48: thank you so much for your time.

01:04:50: i really enjoyed this and um wish you all the very best of luck in going mental and your upcoming projects.

01:04:58: Thank You so much.

01:04:59: It was a real pleasure.

01:05:13: This podcast is produced by POTSTARS at OMR.