Opportunities always come, you just need to have patience and a good dose of opportunism to be able to seize them. While the Tour of Italy chaotically left Hungary, taking the Giro d'Italia circus away to the Magyar country other riders were arriving ready to leave for the Tour de HongrieA stage race of minor caliber but not of significant stature. Just think that Eddy Dunbar won it, and Groenewegen, Viviani, and Jakobsen were among the contenders for the sprints. Among these high-sounding names, a very promising young player has carved out space for himself who plays in the Trek Segafredo: it's about Antonio TiberiThe Ciociaria rider achieved his first professional victory in the queen stage, the only one with a mountain finish.
A beautiful first time
A first victory among the pros always brings a thrill that's hard to relive. Perhaps because it comes when you least expect it, and you risk it all, meter after meter in the tenacious pursuit of success.
«From the first stages – says Antonio – the sensations were good. Due to a bit of inexperience, in the second stage I found myself in the fans and lost 12 minutes to the first ones.In the last stage, as soon as the breakaway went away, while we were in the group, my leg felt “full”. After an hour of running, however, I started to feel a bit tense and I felt strange.. Maybe because I did well here last year too, finishing third."
The beginning of the comeback
«The more kilometers passed – he continues – the more tired and weak I felt, but it was only a psychological sensation. Even at the start of the last climb I felt I didn't have the energy to continue., although, as we climbed I was able to easily keep up. I always remained at the back of the group, so at three minutes to go I told myself that I couldn't risk dropping out because of something stupid like in the second stage, so I made up a few positions."
«With two minutes to go – continues Tiberi – Dunbar took off, I stayed calm and kept my paceAfter a while I caught up with the riders in front of me, one from Movistar (I don't remember who) and Battistella. Once I got back, I thought it was a good idea to take a pictureIf I had brought them with me, I would have lost every chance I had of winning."
A great satisfaction
Antonio's story is cold, analytical, as if he were still reviewing the images of the race in his head.
«In the last 500 meters I said to myself “now or never” and then I made the maximum effort, I saw Dunbar approaching fast and in the last 100 meters I jumped himThe first sensation, once I crossed the finish line, was one of liberation. I was already close to winning last year and to do so really takes a load off you.We didn't have a chance to celebrate with the team, also because we all had planes that evening. Actually, I was happy when I got home, too. I consider this a starting point, not an arrival point.».
The second year among the pros
Antonio is in his second year among the professionals, he is young, in just over a month, on June 24th, he will turn 21The sensations he experiences from racing with the greats are vivid, full of emotion, and he experiences everything with the awareness that there is a lot of work to do, but the path he has taken is the right one.
«I feel good at Trek – he says – they give everyone the right amount of time to mature and reach their own level. In the first part of the season I was quite strongI'm satisfied. The thing that has given me the most confidence is competing with the older guys and seeing how far I can hold my own. From this point of view, the Coppi e Bartali was a good test., there are still many things to learn, just think of the fans that left me out in Hungary. Another great thing about Trek is that by having me run these smaller races, it allows me to learn. So when I'm in the biggest races I can put everything into practice.
«In the second part of the season one of the main objectives was the Tour de Hongrie. Now I have a short rest period ahead of me and then I will go to Dauphiné, that's also a good test. All the riders preparing for the Tour de France will be there, and things will go fast. If everything goes well I could make my debut at the Vuelta, it would be my first major Giro. Nothing is certain yet, but the hope is that I can deserve the call-up."
