When Valerio Agnoli speaks of Vincenzo Nibali the voice becomes more lively, as if a switch were turned on. After all, they ran side by side for 12 seasons, from 2008 in Liquigas passing through Astana e BahrainThe two, in addition to having been teammates, are still great friends. They hear from each other often, a message, a call and… a few rides together.
"When he comes to Fiuggi to visit his in-laws, we always see each other, almost every day," Valerio begins, "and we often go cycling. He has his own pace... andante (laughs, ed.), one of the last times we went out together, in October, we did two hours of gravel and to keep up with him I went at 175 average heart rate... »
«He was here at Christmas, he told me that he wants to take me to do the Cape Epic (a mountain bike race in South Africa that is run in pairs, ed.). I told him that I just hold on to the saddle with my hands and he drags me along.
Do you talk to each other often?
We spoke ten minutes ago. He sent me the link for a gravel race in Sardinia… Consider that we were witnesses at each other's weddings, it's a relationship that has always gone beyond the bike.
Here, help us understand what the bike means to Vincenzo…
Everything that revolves around the bike is a passion for him: from changing a wheel to fixing the pedals. He is a perfectionist, he takes care of everything down to the smallest details.. When I was racing and had to put on cleats, I asked him (laughs again, ed.).
What drives Vincenzo to continue at this level, always taking on new challenges?
In addition to his immense passion for cycling, He has that innate gift that only champions have. There are few riders who have this thing: Contador, Froome, Valverde… I am in an eternal challenge with myself before others..
How difficult was it to be with him over the years?
I must say that we accepted each other, strengths and weaknesses. The beautiful thing about a friendship is accepting the other person for who they are.Personally, when there was a need to talk or even argue, I'd join in, and then we were friends again. But it's important to assert your own arguments.
You raced together at Astana from 2013 to 2016. What made him want to come back?
The environment. In the years we were there, we got along well with all the staff, but especially with Vinokourov and then with “Martino" (Giuseppe Martinelli, ed.) He, in my opinion, played a key role in Vincenzo's returnHe returned to continue and complete a life project he began years ago.
And how do you get along with your classmates?
He has already spoken positively to me about the relationship he has with them. He said that even if he has known them for a short time, he laughs and jokes with them. Moscon and also with Boaro.
Over the years at Trek How did it seem to you?
He wasn't feeling badly, but he didn't seem very calm to me. In such an environment there is a lot of pressure, but Vincenzo is used to it.. I honestly don't know why he didn't continue. Honestly, I would have invested in a person like Nibali.Even the sponsor, Segafredo, would have been happy to continue with him…
The dynamics in a team are many and delicate…
Absolutely, then the rider must be followed carefully, remembering first of all that he is a human beingWhen you make a program at the beginning of the season, the rider identifies with it. If you start changing things because you think he's not performing as he should, he'll suffer.It's difficult to recalibrate goals and have new focuses.
The last victory at Tour of Sicily, as a friend, how did you see it?
For him it was a rush of super happiness, Winning is always nice for everyone, think for someone who has always been used to doing it…It was the confidence boost he needed to relaunch himself and approach the new season in the right way. As soon as he crossed the finish line... He sent me the screen of the bike computer to show me the watts on the last climb: 400 watts on average (on the last climb of the fourth stage, Nibali achieved the KOM with a Vam of 1.700 m/h, ed.).
In short, from the way you described him, after that victory he would have wanted to start the new season straight away.
The way he is made, That victory gave him incredible morale to start 2022 and I'm sure he will show us beautiful things.
Vincenzo inspired a generation of riders and fans.
Many young people have been inspired by him, but fans also love him. This is because he is a kind and easy-going person, he created himselfWe who come from down there had few opportunities to go running, the only solution was to make long trips to Tuscany, Veneto…If you truly love this sport, you don't see them as difficulties, but as opportunities to show your worth, and he has amply demonstrated this.
You who have seen it up close, how has it changed most over the years?
He's become more methodical, more perfectionist. If when he was young he was at 99 percent, now he has reached 101.Mentally he has learned to never switch off, he always takes care of everything down to the smallest details.
