March 16, 2009 was a Monday and among the fans crowded at the Camerino stadium, a very young Pellizzari had just witnessed Scarponi's victory in the sixth stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico, probably unaware of the scene. Giulio was six years old, Michele would turn 30 in a few months and was relaunching his career. Piazza Cavour was seething with fans in the presence of the champion who had left Garzelli, Basso and Di Luca behind: the perfect day in the perfect place.
Ten years later, there was nothing left of that beauty. Scarponi was killed in the spring of 2017 and the earthquake took away the beauty of Camerino. Finding ourselves in Piazza Cavour to unveil a plaque dedicated to Michele, amidst scaffolding and props, seemed like meager compensation for our memory. It was March 16, 2019Pellizzari was sixteen years old and, by an unusual twist of fate, this year he will be personally involved in reaching that milestone. It will happen on March 14th, on Saturday. And it will be inevitable, for those who were there and lived through the other chapters of this story, not to return to those days.
The debut of the Tirreno
On February 21st, last Saturday, la San Severino-Camerino (sixth stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico) It was presented in the Benedetto XIII Auditorium in Camerino, the same one where Pellizzari was welcomed two years ago after the Giro d'Italia (at the top, a photo of the Municipality of Camerino). When we call, Giulio is at home, and talking about the stage here excites him, which is also why he tries to stay away. He knows that expectations are high and also that his most important goals will come later: better to keep your feet on the ground and avoid flights of fancy.
"I've never raced the Tirreno-Adriatico," he says, "but I've always watched it since I was little. Taking part will be great, and it'll be even better to do it in the queen stage, which comes to my hometown. I don't feel the anticipation that much, not yet. I know it will ultimately be an important race, Obviously I want to do well, but my goals are further aheadThat's why I've been preaching about staying calm. It's going to be a very tough stage, but it's not ideal for my characteristics. These are the classic Marche walls, in the end a strong rider will win, but let's say I'm more into longer climbs. For this reason too, I try to enjoy them."
The first Sassotetto
The long climb that day will be there and that too will remind Scarponi, seen the stele dedicated to him on top. Once arrived in Sarnano the group will take the Sassotetto road: 13,1 kilometers with a 965-meter elevation gain up to an altitude of 1.465 meters. The Giro d'Italia passed us by last year, and Pellizzari was also in the peloton that day. However, the most intriguing memory for a boy born in the shadow of the Sibillini Mountains is that of his first time.
«I think it was on May 4, 2020 He smiles at the memory, when they let us take our bikes back after the lockdown. I even did it from Sarnano, and it was great, especially since we were just emerging from the Covid period. It was a beautiful sunny day and I sent a photo to Massimiliano Gentili, with Sassotetto written on it. It was liberation and also a conquest."
Camerino that is reborn
The stage doesn't suit him, but in the meantime Last week Pellizzari went to try the arrival in the heart of CamerinoAnd for the people there, seeing it emerge among the alleys and construction sites was a rallying cry and a sign of rebirth.
«It was a great feeling to come back to the centre – says Pellizzari – to see the works that are going on and reviewing the streets where I grew up. The city is changingEvery time I return, I find new cranes and that's a good sign, especially because this time I saw so many, never seen so many, that if you count them you lose count. Slowly, slowly, Camerino is coming backI tried until the very end to prevent my fans from starting a fan club, but now the time has come to have one. I have nothing against it (smiles, ed.), it's the end-of-season ceremonies and parties that put me in difficulty."
The sense of family
My final thoughts for the Camerino stage bring with them smiles and good luck. "I don't remember that day sixteen years ago, but I've seen the photo of Scarponi with his arms raised in Camerino everywhere. Besides, he won ahead of some big names—I think Garzelli and Basso. It's a bit like me winning in front of Del Toro and Jorgenson. Big names, so that arrival has a certain effect. Would I be disgusted by such an arrival? Well, absolutely not (laughs, ed.)».
His preparation is going well. He felt good at the Valenciana, then recovered a bit, and now he's heading to the Strade Bianche and then the Tirreno. "I'm training," he says. "My legs are good. At the Strade Bianche there will be a race for meWe would have had Van Gils, but he crashed, so I'll have to do my best for the team. I'm happy to do it, we riders and the staff are very close, and that makes the difference for me. The family atmosphere is important, just like Every two or three days I continue to hear from Massimiliano GentiliEvery time I come back we go out cycling together. I think our relationship with him is one that will last forever."
