It is 16:33 PM on Saturday, October 8, 2022. Vincenzo Nibali crosses the finish line of Tour of Lombardy and ends his career. His men are all behind the finish line waiting for him. They walk, they chat, and even if they don't admit it openly, they're excited. A cycle is coming to an end. A slice of life filled with so many emotions.
Michael Pallini, Emilio Magni, Federico Borselli… They're all close together. They crane their necks to see him emerge. "There he is, there he is..." they say in unison and move closer to him. Then only lots of hugs and few words. The glances and those handshakes are enough. There was even Geoffrey Pizzorni, who was Nibali's press officer for a few years. Geoffrey, who is now at Jayco Bike Exchange, we meet by chance but he stays there too.
Martino excited
«Eh – he sighed Giuseppe Martinelli On the eve – here we are. One says: "But you know it's been six months since he left." But meanwhile you keep going and always think it's been six months, and instead the moment has arrived. I admit it's a little strange.
«It's been many years together. And The fact that Vincenzo wanted to finish his career here means a lot to me. I think he wanted to go back to theAstana Qazaqstan Because he feels at home here. He's never criticized other teams he's been on, but he said he felt at home here. I also called him many times, not as a sporting director, but to find out how things were going. When he left, we talked for a long time so that I could follow him. He wanted me with him."
His men
While Martino tells, Gabriele Tosello that's where he prepares his latest bike. Wilier with the special paintwork that recalls Nibali's successes in the Grand Tours.
"Toso," who is perhaps the busiest of all, says he's fitted around thirty bikes this year alone. He's lost count of all the others over the years.
«I – says Tosello – I only know that even though it was his last race he was still grumbling today! He had this new bike, new saddle, new handlebars... and changing it right before the start of such an important race doesn't make him very happy. He would say to me: 'But the measurements? Have you double-checked everything?' He only rode it for 30 kilometers. If it had been up to him, he would definitely have used the 'old' saddle."
"The moment has come, have you seen? I've been with him for 17 years," says the Dr. Magni I only missed him for one year, I still had a contract with my old team, but then I joined him. Seventeen years is a long time. I've seen him grow up."
But whoever is a sphinx, who doesn't wave his emotions in the wind is Michael Pallini, the masseur. We are almost certain, according to our perception, that Michele felt this moment more than anyone else. But he, too, remained "on point" until the end. The comings and goings on the eve for massages, delayed due to his many commitments with sponsors. The usual preparations.
"Excited? I will be starting tomorrow," which is today.
At the side of the podium, leaning against the barriers, there is Alex Carera. He has a melancholy smile. He remembers when he met him. "We were at the 2003 Hamilton World Championships. I helped him because he was having problems with a saddle, he was trying to get in touch with the company. I told him I was an attorney and that maybe we could work together. That's where it all started. It's been twenty years, guys..."
And Vincenzo?
Well, he's probably more excited than he lets on. "Am I excited? I think I slept all afternoon!" he had told us jokingly on the eve.
No one better than him, clearly, can know his feelings. He had been brooding over this withdrawal for some time, and made it public during the Line of Business and perhaps more than others he has matured it, he has metabolised it.
On TV, he said there was only one moment when he truly realized he was ending his career. He was packing his suitcase before leaving for Lombardy. "I realized, I stopped for a moment... but then I continued. Come on, turn the page."
Yesterday morning in Bergamo he enjoyed the applause of the crowd. The parade with Valverde To the applause of their colleagues, they filed between two hemp ropes to reach the front of the group. Yet he was professional until the end, as was Alejandro. Okay, the end of his career, but first there was a race to run.
No tears from him. At least not in public. It's Nibali. Jaws gave us 17 years of great cycling, made us jump on the sofa, made us cry over that fall in Rio, made us dream and sometimes even angry, like in the 2019 Giro when to discuss with Roglic “gave” the pink jersey to carapaz.
But these are the champions. baggio he missed a penalty in the World Cup final. Coppi and Bartali in order to wage war they arrive last. Tomb it wouldn't start if the track was damaged. Greatness also begins here... but only if you've stood on the great podiums first. And Nibali has certainly done so.
