Vincenzo cries. The images scroll at the top of a career that in reality is not yet overHe chose Messina, his city, to announce the end of his journey. A lifelong journeyEighteen years as a professional and before that, many trips back and forth between Sicily and Tuscany, between childhood dreams and growing results.
«Cycling is first and foremost a passion – he says in a conversation with Colbrelli – then you turn your passion into a job. Sacrifice, dedication. And the family is complicit in all of this.Sometimes we're under a lot of stress, and family knows how to help us. Even without saying anything."
Michele's smile
Vincenzo cries. In the video at the Fabretti trial (opening photo) Scarponi's smile flows, but the decision is ripe, and that's why a smile finally prevails on the Shark's face. The year began by waiting in the wings, he would decide later. Until, at a certain point, the decision came. Maybe it was just a matter of admitting it. And one day in Lugano, while he was putting the dishes in the dishwasher, he turned to Pallini and told him.
"At the end of the year I'll stop running!"
The announcement in Lugano
The other remained silent. He thought it was one of those things that will never happen. and even now he struggles to focus on it.
"It was the week before the Giro began – he says – he was undecided, then in the end he thought about it and made the decision. I think the whole run-up to the Giro weighed on him, being outI don't know what exactly went through his head. If he doesn't feel competitive anymore... you'd have to ask him that. I was a bit left like that, but we were in a moment of everyday life at his house in Lugano, so I took it calmlyAfter Liège I basically went up every day except one, because I was in the warehouse.
«We did things the way they should be done. He is still focused – he reflects – he wants to do well in this Giro. In fact, he was a little demoralized for what happened yesterday, because then the head is the usual one. You come to the Giro to do wellThe race is long, we can still come up with something. He was demoralized, but he is not dejected or given up.».
The usual criticisms
They have been working together since Pallini, following Di Luca, he moved from Saeco to Liquigas and found himself with the boy who was spoken of highlyMichele saw the talent blossom and the champion emerge. They got along and even argued, because As for character, neither of them has anything to envy the other.And since in the comments to this article someone will find the opportunity for observations bordering on the ridiculous, a reflection on Italian customs must be made.
"In Italy we always denigrate what we have – he admits – in everything, not just sports. Even when it comes to Italian beauties. It's normal that it is like this, we always appreciate them in hindsight.Maybe one day they'll say: "If Nibali had been there, maybe he could have done something." But this happens to anyone, in any sport and in any type of activity.Maybe to ease the nostalgia, next year we'll come here with Mediolanum and a different role (laughs, ed.) and stay in cycling."
«The relationship between me and Vincenzo – he continues – is those things that start out as work and end up as friendshipIt's normal for it to be this way. I can't see the athlete, I see the person. And the first thing I think as soon as the race starts is: let's hope he doesn't fall. Then afterward, if he wins, we're all happy. If he doesn't win, we're less happy. But the important thing is that nothing happens."
The weight of expectations
Let us think back to Vincenzo's words in that morning at Coppi and Bartali e it is clear that perhaps at the root of everything there is the difficulty of dealing with expectations every day and what the role of champion requires.
«The pressure – says Pallini – you start to feel it when you see that you can no longer achieve what was once within your reachSo the pressure inside you increases. If results come easily, it drops. He noticed this gapAnd like all the athletes who say they don't look at social media or read newspapers, like the footballers who say they don't read report cards but actually read them, Vincenzo also reads and listens. Sometimes he accepts. And others get angry at certain criticisms that are useless and inconclusive and they are of no use."
For Demare, a return to success at the Giro after the 4 victories of 2020: for him, the 6th seal For once the Frenchman won without Guarnieri, who arrived last at 11'57” The pink jersey of Messina still on the shoulders of Juan Pedro Lopez for Trek who had never won it before Cavendish also joined the sprinters' group: the Briton was dropped at Portella Mandrazzi by Alpecin's pressure. Same fate for Caleb Ewan: the fatigue of Etna remained in his legs
For Demare, a return to success at the Giro after the 4 victories of 2020: for him, the 6th seal For once the Frenchman won without Guarnieri, who arrived last at 11'57” The pink jersey of Messina still on the shoulders of Juan Pedro Lopez for Trek who had never won it before Cavendish also joined the sprinters' group: the Briton was dropped at Portella Mandrazzi by Alpecin's pressure. Same fate for Caleb Ewan: the fatigue of Etna remained in his legs
Retreat for two
When Bettini stopped, his masseur Stefano Cerea said he would stay out of the spotlight for a while and today he's working well at Trek-Segafredo. Pallini's reasoning, however, points in a different direction.
«99 percent – he confirms – this is also my last yearIt's something we've already talked about. I think I've already made arrangements, although we could probably come here in other capacities. I don't see myself going full time with another team or starting over with another riderI don't know, never say never, but I don't see myself in it. The problem is that After so many years in which a glance is enough to understand each other, starting over becomes difficult. It would be tiring.
«Maybe we had a good relationship with Vincenzo, because I think we have the same character, so we understand each other immediatelyMaybe with someone else I would have a harder time. I repeat: there were also moments of tension, as in all relationships. It would have been worse if they hadn't been there, but we always made things clear».
Delayed fuse
There is one year left to live and run. There remains a Tour of Italy which left less than a week agoThere are pages left to write.
«It will be a real year – he says – in which aim for the races he likes the mostMaybe now he doesn't want to think about anything else but the Giro, so he wouldn't even answer. However nothing prevents us from thinking that he will run the Vuelta to have an excellent Lombardy. Surely, even if it will be his last race, he won't want to be an extra. I'm sure of that.
«He was moved, I don't know. I usually experience things after the fact. I'm busy organizing.We need to get to the ferry quickly. The car needs to be ready and there's something to eat inside. So when this is all over and the tension eases, maybe I'll reconsider. Delayed. I can't right now, because I'm caught up in a thousand thoughts.».
