It will be nice to meet them on the top of Lamporecchio in some time, in Tuscany which united them after Sicily gave birth to them, in front of a beer and with the bikes leaning against the wall. Giovanni and Vincenzo, Visconti and Nibali. Two names who have pedaled alongside each other for a lifetime and who chose to retire in the same season.
"When I announced that I was quitting – says Visconti – Vincenzo called me and there was something strange in his voiceI think he was going through a difficult time too…».
John is just got home from three days at Tour of Italy, bringing the brand around Sicily MCipollini of which he is a testimonial and collecting splendid demonstrations of affection at every stageAnd yesterday his lifelong rival, who later became a friend and who shared a similar story, announced which will stop running at the end of the year, what has always united them has become even stronger.
Did you expect it?
I hadn't realized that the stage would end in Messina and that it could be a great moment. But yes, I understood that his time was approaching too.
You talked about a difficult time.
I have always envied Vincenzo the ability to not care about anything, to let it slide off your backBut I try to put myself in his shoes. Lately he might have thought: “I am Vincenzo Nibali, I won what I won, why do I have to put up with all this criticism?” It's always been going strong, but lately the results have been less. People tell you to keep going, but I don't know how long someone has been there thinking about it and thinking about itMy internal turmoil lasted two years, who knows how long he's been thinking about it.
Why so much criticism?
I find it incredible. What else do they want to ask him? He's 37 years old. Don't you think it's normal for younger athletes to be faster? It's absurd how the same group of people gathered around him first he downplayed his victories, attributing them to the falls of his opponentsAnd now that he doesn't win because time has passed, they attack him again. I swear I understand Vincenzo.
The feeling is that in saying it, a weight has been lifted.
A huge weight, though Maybe it will be difficult to live with this until the end of the yearI hope they will start now. to love him again and praise him, because even though he's decided to retire, he'll always be there to honor the races. And let's face it...
What?
Someone like him it can't stop from today to tomorrow, as I may have done. If your name is Nibali, if you are Vincenzo Nibali, you have the team that relies on you and contracts with sponsors. People make it easy, but it's not about getting off the horse and calling it a day.
Do you think that having that burden off his shoulders will allow him to enjoy this Giro more?
Maybe he'll be more relaxed and, as he said, he'll be able to have fun. I just hope it drops a little further out of the rankings, because he certainly has the legs to get to the top ten. I just think it would be The most beautiful thing in the last Giro of your career is being able to cross the finish line with your arms raised in the air rather than fighting to get fifth.
He talked about wanting to spend more time with his family.
Then he will finally be freer and will be able to enjoy riding a bikeBut to summarize, I think there is one thing and only one thing to say.
What?
I am proud to have shared my entire career with him. Against and together. And in the future it will also be nice to remember it, because Vincenzo Nibali is the history of cycling and I lived it with him in my own way.We started our careers together. And then, as I've said before, he went to another planet (In the opening, the two were together in the 2014 Tour won by the Messina native, ed.). We teased and motivated each other and lately I even found myself defending him from all that unfair criticism. Because when it's too much, it's too much. Now I hope that he can enjoy what remains of his cycling journey.
You know what else to say?
No, what is it?
You may have eventually given up, but Pozzovivo will still be there fighting for at least another year. Of the Verona team (from the 2004 U23 World Cup), Domenico will prove to be the longest-serving.
He bursts out laughing. It was an honor to tell their career stories, and we're proud of it too. And maybe that day, if they want, we'll sit together and order another beer, refreshing our memories or even happily talking about something else.
