Cycling, life on the pedals of the "veteran" Simona Cerquetti
Fifty-four years old from Carbonia, a pharmacist by profession with a past as a volleyball player, she has been the standard bearer of the historic Monteponi team for over twenty years
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One ride after another, a new climb to face, exciting challenges to try: Simona Cerquetti is one of the top athletes of Sardinian women's amateur cycling , a veteran who has never lost the desire to get involved despite her daily commitments with which you have to deal.
Fifty-four years old from Carbonia, a pharmacist by profession with a past as a volleyball player in the role of lifter in the Volleyball Sulcis Cortoghiana club, for over twenty years the bearer of the historic Monteponi team has tackled kilometer after kilometer with the awareness of those who know that every outing in cycling goes beyond being an important training in view of the competitions, revealing itself as a way to get to know each other better from a human point of view.
His victories? Several and of caliber between road, mountain bike and cyclocross : among all, the title of Italian champion of Gran Fondo Csain in 2018 in Budoni and the Italian time trial Tricolor of the Master Women 3 category in 2020 in Gonnesa in the opening time trial of the Giro stand out delle Miniere, as well as various Sardinian titles and successes in prestigious events such as the Coppa Città di Quartu, the Stranuraghi, the time trial of Ingurtosu without forgetting important placements such as the fifth place in 2021 in Monte Urano ai Tricolori di Medio Fondo in the Master category Women 3 and feats in suggestive scenarios such as the ultra ''MyLand'' in Baradili where she cycled for a total of 440 kilometers without stopping and the circumnavigation of Sardinia in August 2020 where she covered 1068 kilometres.
Unforgettable experiences, beyond the technical aspect: real adventures to be fully experienced, snapshots of life punctuated by the incessant rhythm of the pedals, which have become indelible memories to be jealously guarded.
Cerquetti from 2000 to today over twenty years of pedaling.
" Yeah, time went by really fast. I started mountain biking in 2000, making excursions and rides immersed in nature that I have always loved deeply. After 2005, I stopped for some time and then actively resumed in 2010, the year in which I also started competing. Initially, among other things, racing wasn't exactly one of my intentions, I was simply interested in pedaling to feel good about myself and enjoy the landscapes in which I trained. It was my training partners who convinced me, arguing that I had to get involved. In short, it was a surprise for me too ».
Some time later the debut also arrived on the road.
« Yes, even in this case it was the others who motivated and spurred me on to start. I started training with the road bike in mid-2013, while the first races in this area date back to around 2015».
Between mountain biking and road which size do you prefer?
« I prefer the road, even though I took my first steps on a mountain bike. I love the higher speed of running on the road, the thrill you feel pedaling in certain places, I find everything very suggestive and exciting. Furthermore, compared to the mountain bike, the road racing bike allows you to optimize your times, thus being able to train more».
Do you think the two disciplines are compatible?
« Contrary to the opinion of many people, I really think so. I believe that running both on a mountain bike and on the road allows you to vary and reap benefits: on a mountain bike you train the cardiac part more, while on the road you pay more attention to the aerobic part and leg strength, aspects that together allow you to do the difference and to improve».
In 2019 he won the Cortemilia national competition in his category: what do you remember?
« I have splendid memories, it was a very intense experience for me that I will never forget. That was my very first race outside of Sardinia and the first time I competed in a women's only race. Up until that moment, here in Sardinia, I had competed together with the men, therefore in a totally different context».
Among his old teammates is Emiliano Murtas, one of the most important exponents of Sardinian cycling ever.
« Exactly, Emiliano and I played for a few years in the same team or Spakkaruote, we trained many times together and even today it happens to train in a group when we manage to match the schedules. He is a golden person, a great point of reference for every runner».
Your profession is that of a pharmacist, how do you manage to train despite work commitments?
It takes a lot of passion and dedication, as well as taking into account that to practice cycling it is necessary to make sacrifices. I train five times a week, during the lunch break from 1 to 3 pm and I cover about sixty kilometres, sometimes even seventy depending on the weather conditions. Then, when I'm not working and I have more time available, I take the opportunity to go on a longer outing, even reaching one hundred and twenty kilometers».
On 25 March in your city, i.e. Carbonia, you took third place at the Renzo Senni Memorial: are you satisfied?
" Yes, absolutely. Competing at home is always very stimulating and exciting. Initially I didn't even know if I would race then I convinced myself to do it because I really wanted it and giving up would have been a shame. It was a good race, we only had a women's start. I paid a little for the uphill effort compared to my opponents who proved to be more brilliant in those situations but that's okay anyway. I gave my best and enjoyed myself, which is the main aspect».
Yesterday, however, in Sassari she finished second in the first edition of the Giro dello Stagno behind Ariana Perdisci: what sensations did she have?
« I pedaled well, I'm very happy, it was a good level race. Ariana is a young and very strong athlete, competing with opponents like her is always a pleasure ».
What will be the main focus of your season?
« Certainly the Tour of the Mines which will be held from 2 to 11 June and will be organized by my company, namely Monteponi. Precisely on the occasion of the last stage, i.e. on 11 June, the Italian Solo Women championship will take place in Bacu Abis on a selective course made even harder by the heat that will not fail: here, I would like to have my say and fully play my cards ».
What does cycling represent for you?
« Cycling for me is freedom, it goes beyond competitive spirit which I consider to be a completely secondary aspect. For me, cycling is a precious opportunity to feel better about yourself, freeing yourself from negativity: a daydream that is different and exciting every time, which always offers valuable lessons».
