Diego He has already been to Tokyo and even won (opening photo), so since last night he has had an extra happy thought buzzing around in his head. It was July 21, 2019 and the Tuscan presented himself alone at the finish line which will award the gold medal in road cycling on July 24th. And yesterday, on the Slovenian roads of Nova Gorica, with the goal of the Italian national jersey and the concrete possibility of going to the Olympics, Diego Ulissi has somehow closed the circle of destiny tooHe won the stage of the Tour of Slovenia And he's back on the road. A journey that, even though he's only 32 years old, has already been underway in professional football for 12 seasons.
Stop: it's the heart
When they stop you because there seems to be some abnormalities in the heart, It's not easy to get back on track: how do you know what that really means? You see a broken leg, you touch it, and it hurts. A heart with extrasystoles at most is a sensation, but if you've always had them, you also think it's normal.
“In fact, at first I was scared,” he told us, “especially for my health. My career takes a back seat, but the love of the people around me has helped me get through it.It was all a mental thing. Physically I didn't feel anything, I've always been fine. But suddenly this diagnosis came, I had to stop and the head worked a lotIt was a mixture of fear and despair. The hope of going back and doing what I'd always done. The fear of never being able to do it again. Then finally the clearance arrived, like a liberation."
The victory at Nova Gorica breaks a fast that had lasted since October 16 At the presentation conference, he was also there with Pogacar and Mohoric, home champions
The victory at Nova Gorica breaks a fast that had lasted since October 16 At the presentation conference, he was also there with Pogacar and Mohoric, home champions
From Spain to the Giro
Ha hung up the number al Indurain GP on April 3rd: Valverde's return to victoryThe Tour of the Basque Country, which started two days later, was on the agenda, but that couldn't be said due to the necessary precautions. Then the Flèche Wallonne was not completed and the first signs of an awakening in Romandie, with good placings in the final stages. The Giro d'Italia could have been the stage for a relaunch or a too high obstacle, but Diego took it step by step.. And even if he didn't manage to fit in the most suitable stages, Something clicked in the third week. Fourth in Sega di Ala, fifth in Stradella.
«If during the convalescence it was more of a mental thing – he said at the end of the Giro – here they did more with legs than with headIt was good to grow gradually and not compromise the rest of the season. The Giro d'Italia was certainly a useful passage for the rest of the year. And the Olympics are a dream for everyone, including me."
Tokyo is calling
The Tour of Slovenia has always brought him luck. And while Pogačar embraced it as if his brother had won, the memory goes back to when the Livorno native, still 22 years old, arrived there in 2011 after winning the Tirano stage of the Giro d'Italia and taking the overall victory. He returned in 2016 to win a time trial, and in 2019 he again secured a stage and the general classification. Then too, he left the Giro without a win, but then he won in Lugano, taking Slovenia. he came fourth at the Italian championships and flew to Tokyo.
«It was important to be there – he said after the arrival of that test – because Only the race makes you understand the real difficulties of the path. At the Olympics it will be very tough.».
A nice déjà vu
Italy flew to Japan with Ulissi, Formolo fresh from the Italian flag, Cataldo and Masnada, still a rider for Androni and winner of the San Giovanni Rotondo stage of the Giro.
“It’s not up to me to choose,” Diego said, commenting on the victory, “but if necessary, I’m ready. I'm really happy. At the Giro d'Italia last week I had great feelings and this time I made the most of my condition, thanks also to a great team. It's nice after such a difficult winter, having found excellent sensations and excellent legs. I'm really happy."
