Look at his face, did you see that determination? There are 200 meters to go to the finish line, he lowers himself onto the handlebars and has an angry grin on his face that hadn't been seen for a while. Today more than ever he is running for Damiano, today he is all for himselfIt's late afternoon in the mountains between Italy and Switzerland, and the feeling of having experienced an unforgettable day is clear to everyone present. The press room erupted in applause, something it hadn't seen in a long time.Look at his face, did you see his determination? And what a splendid madness his attack was?
For Battaglini
"I know how much I've worked over the years to get here," he says. "Nothing happens by chance. I thought about a thousand things. The hard work of three weeks. The work of my teammates. The dream coming true. I thought about Mauro Battaglini and the fact that I wanted to dedicate the victory to him, as Bettiol had done. He would have been happy with the podium already, with this stage we sent him into ecstasy. I am the happiest man on earth."
Goodbye, Bardet
Look at his face, have you seen that determination? He accelerates again and this time the damned Frenchman sits down. Poor Bardet, he really doesn't deserve it, but when someone is always in your wheel and gives you the feeling of wanting to take advantage of you, every inch that opens up between the wheels is a promise of justice. And with two kilometers to go the gap widens, Bardet sits down and Damiano flies away.
Madness and intelligence
«There was nothing planned – he says – sometimes things start like this and it takes a pinch of madness and intelligence. When we saw that those of the Team DSM they had brought themselves forward on the Spluga Pass, I told Pello to come with me in front, that something was about to happenI cheered him on throughout the stage, and as he pushed, I thought that if anything happened, it would be thanks to him. Who knows what we could have done if we had remained with five riders. Seventy percent of this victory is his. In the end I decided to give it my all, so as not to ruin my partner's work.».
Twisted Tracks
Look at his face, see that joy? He stands in the middle of the street, while the team members hug him.At the finish line he shook his head and while he looks towards the arrival it's as if the scene were being recomposed in his eyesCaruso Damiano, a 33-year-old Sicilian, is exactly where we all thought he could be when he turned professional. Life has tracks that sometimes get tangled and every crossroads risks becoming decisiveDamiano could have done these things earlier, but before that, he wasn't clear-headed, as he told us a few days ago. What would have changed if he hadn't renewed his contract with Liquigas and gone straight to BMC?
Champion today
«From tomorrow – he says – I won't become a super winner… But These three weeks have taught me a lot, I have gained awareness of what I can do. When Landa fell, I didn't know what to do. Then someone pushed me to aim high, to win a stage and above all to get into the rankingsI raced to win; we're professional riders paid to achieve results. And I consider myself an excellent professional, because I've never won as a champion. Yet today I had my champion's day».
A big heart
Look at his face, see his shining eyes? Emotions are like your heartbeat when you're out of control. They pulsate wildly, then slowly begin to settle and you begin to breathe again.And Damiano now, sitting on this chair that smells of victory, is thinking of all those who today and in the last few days have pulled for him. He is moved, because To be Damiano Caruso you certainly need big legs, but above all you need his big heartAnd now that the cycling world is taking notice of him, he remembers who has always been there and stops there. Rightly so.
Turning point in Montalcino
"The people on the road," he says, "have been wonderful today and throughout the Giro. I feel like they love me, maybe because I have always tried to be a good personI grew up with my values and I have carried them forward over time. Before becoming a cyclist, I like to think I'm a good man and personThose gestures at the finish line were my way of remembering Mauro, my father and mother, my wife, my children. I lived the first part of my career more calmly, but This time I took on the challenge which was above all a challenge for myself.I started to feel confident after the Montalcino stage, because I was quite convinced that they would separate me. From that day I began to ask myself: "Why settle? Go for it, dream big. Worst case scenario, you'll go back to being the Caruso you were before.. Why not dream impossible dreams? For me, this Giro could end here too."
Keep dreaming
Look at his face, see that determination? His eyes light up again. The values are good, and the dedications are good, too, but why not dream impossible dreams? Tomorrow's time trial is long, Bernal seems to fear itLast year, in Pogačar's crazy Tour de France and his comeback against Roglič, Damiano finished seventh in the final time trial. And even then, he had fire in his eyes.
Chrono at full speed
«And in fact tomorrow I'll give it my all – he says – I don't want to do calculations, look at times and numbers. I want to enjoy every minute, from the test run to the warm-up. I want to enjoy every single one of those 30 kilometers.Tomorrow will be a special day for me, a great closure. Of course I will give it my allThe Giro doesn't end tonight, let's keep it open until tomorrow..."
