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Italy has great ambitions with “blue team” captained by the U23 European champion in men’s C1 1000 metres event Carlo Tacchini, born in Verbania and member of “Fiamme Oro”.

 

Tacchini, reigning champion from Serbia 2017, is now ready to fight in the first two World Cups of the season 2018 in Szeged (Hungary) and Duisburg (Germany). At the end of this step, Tacchini will be in Auronzo from 2^nd to 3^rd June to take part in the Italian trials and improve his feelings on regatta course in C1 1000 and C1 200 metres.

 

"I like Auronzo di Cadore, we are in Italy and we want to take confidence with the lake. I expect a great cheering and I will obviously try to give my best. This regatta course is completely different compared to other traditional locations,” Tacchini explains, “We will have to make the most of the characteristics of the lake; first of all the height, which is not common with other places. Secondly, the water temperature is lower than in the other regatta courses. Particularities that can make the difference and that we will obviously try to exploit in our favour, having the opportunity to train more frequently in Auronzo than other nations.”

 

 

“The opponents will obviously be very respectable,” says Carlo Tacchini, “but coming to this competition as a reigning champion I want to fight and paddle as best as possible to defend the title. This year there are many goals. The European Championships in Auronzo because I want to confirm last year’s important results, European Senior Championships to claim the qualification for the European Olympic Games in 2019. And then, World Championships to challenge myself against the best paddlers in the world and test my physical condition.”

 

And what about his life after Rio 2016, with 7^th place in C1 1000 final? “Everything has changed,” said Tacchini. “My new coach is Beniamino Bonomi, Italian hero, and I got to talk a lot with Daniele Molmenti, Olympic gold medallist in the K1 slalom in London and today head coach of Italian canoe slalom national team. In Rio I was not satisfied with the result; just as Daniele was not satisfied with his results in Beijing 2008. After that Olympics, however, Molmenti worked in the right way to win in London, four years later. And learning from mistakes he made. And I would like to have a similar reaction in Tokyo 2020.”

 

A special message to the people of Belluno and those will be in Auronzo at the end of June? “Come and support us, we will do our best to give you emotions -,” concludes Tacchini, “we are waiting for you on the Lake Santa Caterina. You will not regret it.”