«I think that Sonny – says Mazzanti – he would like above all to wake up from this nightmareI'm convinced that at a certain point he expected to have to stop, but I waited until the very end to be sure and make it officialIt was the only time I didn't give him advice. I just told him that For me, Colbrelli the man was more important than the riderHe listened, but before saying the final word he wanted to think carefully."
Almost winter afternoon, ten days exactly after the announcement in Milan, but it seems like a lifetime. It all still needs to be digested well, but in the meantime With Luca Mazzanti we take a journey into Sonny's world Colbrelli, to read his story through the eyes of those who have always represented him as an athlete.
Colbrelli was his first client. "Mazza" thinks about it and remembers when, still a rider, in 2007 he founded with two partners GL Promotion, the athletes' agency, where he still worksThe Bolognese, who has been living in Milan for a while, never imagined that he would be racing for another six seasons. But taking advantage of the fact that at the time he was still at Ceramica Panaria in Reverbs, he told him about the Brescian who at the time was still a juniorColbrelli's first professional contract dates back to 2013 and took shape after three seasons at Zalf FiorMeanwhile, Mazzanti stopped running and the pair began working together.
Four years with Reverberi before taking flight…
Sonny has always had a market, but I think that the first leap in quality was made in 2014 (In the opening, the two are seen together at that year's Giro, ed.) I took the liberty of advising him on technical matters, because I had noticed that weight was a problem. He lost a little weight and the victories started coming.The following year, however, things didn't go so well. This weight thing became too much, he lost too much and also had mononucleosisBad year, but in 2016 he was back on track and started winning. And at that point he made the leap into the WorldTour with the newly formed Team Bahrain-Merida.
And from there he never left.
Sonny only raced in two teams, because If he was happy and the team was satisfied, he didn't need to change. He has never been short of proposals, but with Bahrain he married a project, he believed it and stayed.
Which project?
Seeing the level he had reached, we were looking for a team where he could continue to run as a leader in his races, as he had learned in Reverberi's professional team. The team was clearly focused on Nibali, but In the classics Sonny was allowed to run as a front rider. He continued on his path of growth, not like it happens today, which Our people go out on assignments that we don't like at all. It took him a while to get his act together and understand what he could do, but he got there.
When do you think the real leap in quality occurred?
I always knew it would come. He had won the Gold Cup, he had won as a junior and as an U23. Not everyone has the same timing, and perhaps he didn't believe in his own potential. And when in 2020 it seemed his career was headed for a rough patch, he started being followed by Paola Pagani, his mental coachShe motivated him a little, she taught him a little to achieve his goals. The fact is that 2021 was the year we all remember.
What do you remember about that March 21st?
I was at home and my TV was broken. That's why I looked at the finish line on my smartphone and after the sprint I put it in my pocket and went out. to go to the mall. Only while I was going, they started the messages and calls to find out how Sonny was doingI picked up the phone to find out something. I called Miholjevic, but he wasn't in Spain. Then Pellizotti, who was there. At the moment, great fear.As soon as it was possible, I went to Spain with my wife Adelina and my father, but When we arrived, we already knew he was fine. At that point, we already thought he could run again.. Instead, a difficult year had just begun, nobody wanted something like this. But I have to say that he had a reaction that surprised even me.
Let's take a step back: how did 2021 come out?
Anyone who knows him knows he's always been professional. So, once the parties and awards were over, the season began. Unfortunately, he caught the flu and in the end he didn't have a great winter.. Yet he arrived at Het Nieuwsblad second behind Van Aert and that day he made us understand that, even though he wasn't at the top, he was ahead of those riders. That's why the regret is great. In Sonny I saw the mentality and confidence of the greatsHe skipped Sanremo and went to Catalunya precisely to save the other classics…
Back from the hospital in Spain, he disappeared…
There was a bit of shock to absorb and a bit of privacy. Everyone wanted to know things that even he didn't know.The goal was to get back to running. He underwent all the tests and all the procedures. What had to be done was done, but in the end the decision was up to him.. They were more or less beautiful days, but with the help of the fans, the family and the team that gave him financial peace of mind, he managed to think calmly.
How do you see him in this new role?
We'll have to figure it out. It's a very broad role, both ambassador and technical support. We'll have to see what he'll do, because the wound is very fresh, we'll have to understand how he thinks and what his state of mind will be.I'm convinced that the team won't do anything to put him in trouble. It might even be that by thinking calmly, he'll immediately find the role he likes, the role he will feel most comfortable inBut to say he's come to terms with it might be a stretch. I don't think certain things can be metabolized so quickly.
