The cart that comes to light from the dim light of the garage has bright colors and an incredible attention to detail. Fiorelli moves it with lightness and pride. These works of art have been his true passion since before the arrival of the bicycle.It's a shame that the weather is terrible and we can't harness the horse, so the appointment is postponed until next summer. Or spring, when the new cart will arrive from Catania, which Filippo will then decorate with his grandfather Matteo.
The first cart
The road from Bagheria to Ficarazzi is flooded by the rain that has been falling heavily since morning. First came the wind, then buckets of water that transformed the streets into riversThe sea boils in the background. Towards the mountains and towards Palermo, the sky is dark, like a threat. This morning Fiorelli did not train, preferring to run on footWinter is in full swing and he will soon be leaving for the retreat of the Bardiani to the Held the BuzzerBut today she opened the doors of her home to us to satisfy the curiosity that blossomed after seeing some images on Instagram. We are here, you will have understood, for Filippo's passion for Sicilian carts.
«I'm doing the first real one right now – he says proudly – because Until now I always had my grandfather's onesI've never needed to buy one, but now I bought one because I've had the desire to do it with my grandfather for a long time. My true passion is precisely this, the horse and the cart.The bicycle came later, and I made it my job. But since I was little, I've always followed my grandfather. And my grandfather brought me into this Sicilian cart culture».
Out on the horse
He had told us about his attachment to his land.already paid last year, however, discovering this type of passion really struck us.
«Only in Sicily are there these things – he smiles – maybe in the North there are different types of carts, because here too they were born for transport in the countrysideBut mine is a real passion, so much so that When I was little they made fun of me and told me I was old fashionedBecause the cart is an ancient means of transport. I like to ride it. In the winter, when I have some free time. Or when I was in school and, so to speak, a layabout, I used to ride my horse to pass the timeI'm here for a short time now, but I'm not complaining, because cycling is my job. But the separation from Sicily is really a bad thing…».
A special winter
It won't be a winter like any other. His mentor said so. Giovanni Visconti. Next season will be the one to understand if the leap into a squad is possible or whether his career will continue at Bardiani. Just looking at him is enough to realize how exhausted he is. After the last race he took a break for 20 days, leaving the bike alone as he had never done before and running on foot if anything.
«Next year will be the decisive one – admits Fiorelli – because I'm 28 years old, so I have to start proving something good, both to myself and to my team and to the people who believe in me. This winter I started working well. It's true that I'm focused on weight, because that's the thing that's keeping me from climbing the step to hold on to the last uphill meters and sprint to the finish line with the 20-30 meters that are within my reachI won bunch sprints, like at the Sibiu Tour, but only because I had a really great team that launched me well in the sprint. Ma I don't consider myself a sprinter».
Thinking about Plouay
The thought goes back to the day of Plouay and in fifth place behind the winner Van AertA challenging race, which could have been within Fiorelli's reach.
«That – he says – was a race of legs, a competition of strength and so those who had the most energy left in their legs were in frontI was a bit stuck, because it was a somewhat confused sprintBut if things had gone well, I'm not saying I could beat Van Aert, but I could have easily gotten there right after him.The goal is to compete in this type of race, in some classic. That race went as well as I could have asked for. A regular start, ready to go, and the selection that allowed me to stay ahead. I will work with this in mind, from December 5th we will be in retreat and we will start talking about objectives".
