Carlos Coloma and Roco del Alba, the medalist and his pupil: “I have not seen anything like it”

The day Coloma showed up at Roco del Alba's house, she burst into tears. Four years and many trainings together later, the young Madrid debut in Tokyo and the Rioja legend seek to say goodbye to the Games with another feat. “If I have to choose, there is no doubt, I prefer that she win the medal”

• Hockey.
  

  Berta Bonastre and Carlota Petchame, cousins ​​and international: “We live hockey from the cradle”
  

The last medal for Spain in Ro was a question of balls, although Carlos Coloma got it on two wheels (Logroo, 1981), entering the finish line with his hands ah. Here are my balls! I knew it, I knew it!, that shouted, remember with half a smile, both pride and blush. That bronze changed his life, because with him pedaled the three mortgages to pay. But the biker is pure self-confidence and optimism. And he is so convinced that in Tokyo he can do it again as if he is accompanied by one of the greatest pearls of Spanish sport.

For some time now, Roco del Alba Garca (Villa del Prado, Madrid, 1997), has become his shadow. Its common history, of teacher and pupil, of legend and diamond, which awaits colophn in The circuit of Mount Izu on July 27 -This time the MTB does not close the Games-, it has an exciting start. They tell it, speaking as they pedal, in relief.

Last year of Jnior, Roco was champion of Spain in the three disciplines: cyclocross, mountain bike and road. But his move to a professional road team (Lointek) … I ended up quite disappointed, very tired, explains Coloma, who one day, shortly after the Olympic medal, was approached at a cycling fair. He told me he wanted to change to MTB, that if he could lend a hand. But a month passed when I couldn't call her again. Until I wrote again and it happened that I was in Madrid … he continues. It was a bit like that, she returns. I was a little disappointed (I came to play the Giro), I wanted to go back to my beginnings, to the mountain bike. That day he came from Navacerrada to my house in Villa del Prado, which is more than an hour away. Don't believe me when I saw him there, an Olympic medalist at home. I started to cry.

Roco, who got his ticket to Tokyo with the seventh place in the U23 World Cup (it was 14 in the Olympic test in October), became part of Coloma's most personal project, his own team, the BH Tempo Cafs, based in Albelda de Iregua, his town. True to his tattoo – he is still hungry, he is still crazy, a phrase by Steve Jobs -, not for the Rioja, also with his first steps in the world of wine, how could it be otherwise. Aware that after 21 World Cups and those that will be their fourth Games (also sixth in London), there is a world far beyond the competition, although Carlos and Lucas, their seven and nine year old children – the little one is a little boy, They say he looks like me …- they also take care of him.

If I have to choose, there is no doubt, I prefer to win the Roco medal, Carlos is sincere, for whom there is no impossible and the sample was that unexpected bronze … for all but him. Risking that day was the greatest success of my career and for that reason, although in Tokyo legends like Nino Schurter – the Messi of the MTB – or phenomena like Van der Poel take the pools, he warns: One day I am not afraid of anyone.

(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WensGZ6l-Gs (/ embed)

Nor does he discard Roco, despite his bisoez. Because he saw something in her, although the first thing that the mand was to gain weight … That was the first advice she gave me, that had to gain strength and weight, which was thin. Physically it was and is very good, but the technique … I have not seen anything like it, a runner so young with that ease, comparable to Jolanda Neff, to any of the world elite. In Spanish cycling, it had never been seen, emphasizes the teacher, without limits for the applied student. Maybe he will arrive in Tokyo a little soon, the normal thing is that it is between six and 12. But with the type of circuit, with its progress, the pressure that I think is going to affect him positively … The medal is difficult, but it falls within the possibilities, he says.

Why? Why not ?, shortcut l. He has the race to do something big. The Olympic champion in Ro was with 22 years. Roco takes steps too quickly. He has so much motivation and confidence … that sometimes I fear that he can become frustrated, he concludes. Because with it there is not only a competitive tutelage. It is very good and it will be something very big, but the personal is really important, what sustains everything, nuances, emphasizing training, in everything that athletes build beyond training. I always say that from this, now, you can live. It's not football or tennis, but she already charges more than enough to get her career on track. And if you do it right, when you retire within 15-20 years, you can have your life on track. But you have to work hard, be very aware of brands, social networks, the press …

OLYMPIC TEST: Carlos Coloma answers

Your favorite memory of Olympic history?

Indurain's gold in the Atlanta chrono and Bolt's races, iconic.

If he achieves a medal, where will he celebrate it?

To La Rioja, with a good wine.

In WhatsApp, write or send audios?

Both. Audios facilitate when it comes to more serious matters.

What athlete do you admire?

Muhammad Ali.

Your forbidden food?

We both have a grateful genetics, we are not to gain weight or fat. Out of season, we can eat everything. I'm from La Rioja, chops, choricillo … From February you try to take care of yourself a little more.

Have you linked on social networks?

I try not to give foot. Not that I am a Latin lover, but I have a beautiful woman and two children.