ROME – The Presidents' Gallery is full of cycling faces. In one corner, the slightly embarrassed smiles of Tiberi and Pellizzari shine And there's also Pozzato, who has recovered greatly from his ailments. When the Speaker of the House arrives, the ushers push anyone in the corridor to clear his path. Fontana is a 44-year-old from Verona and has accepted the invitation of Roberto Pella, also a member of parliament, who wanted to celebrate his appointment as President of the Cycling League.
And Fontana talks about when in 1994 he found himself in hospital due to serious health problems and, unable to move, he followed every stage of that Giro. He was discharged the day Marco Pantani won his first stage, that of Merano, on the eve of the masterpiece of Aprica.
"I never met him," she says, "but I felt a bond with him that was something superior. Because His challenges and his victory for me were a rebirth after a very hard periodCycling shows how committed athletes are, their effort in overcoming all difficulties. You're only against yourself before you're against your opponent. The beauty is in seeing this effort and also this fightOvercoming mountains, having the courage to face them. Being alone, often and willingly, even in times of crisis, and always trying to recover day after day. Cycling is also a life training ground».
The reasons for Dauphiné
Tiberi listens to him and thinks (and will later say) that he has come to Montecitorio for the first time on a school visit. Having returned here now as a guest for fifth place at the Giro d'Italia It's an honor he never would have thought of. The rider of Bahrain Victorious he recognized his white shirt, lined up with the others that decorate the morning in Parliament. After his retirement from Dauphiné, his summer was mainly about recovery, before returning to the highlands to prepare for the VueltaWho knows why they wanted to bring him to the French race, after such a demanding Giro for him.
More head than legs
«And to tell the truth – he smiles in the impeccable black suit – mentally it was almost as if I never went thereIt wasn't so much a physical problem, but rather a mental one. It's not as if everything begins and ends with the first and last stages of the Giro. There were two months of preparation. First the hill and then from the hill straight to the Tour of the AlpsFrom there to Liège and then 100 percent focus on the GiroSo those 21 days and then when you take a week off and completely turn off your mind and body, having to start again is hard.
«I thought I would go to Dauphiné with good condition, which would allow me to get some results, score some points for the team and maybe even something for myselfBut when we saw that I was suffering mentally more than anything else and that competing was weighing heavily on me, the team opted for the best option: sending me home to rest. Recharge your batteries to start training again for the Vuelta, like the one for the Giro».
Was the Giro more tiring on your legs or your mind?
Since it was the first major stage race as captain, It was a new experience mentally tooIt was the right compromise, in the sense that I didn't find it too hard. On the other hand It wasn't even that easy, mostly because of the mental part. Being in Italy was a huge help. Having so many friends and acquaintances along the way gave me energy. So I felt the effort less or in any case, running on roads that I knew, I was able to put more effort into itPhysically, however, having prepared very well and already having two Vueltas under my belt, I didn't come out as exhausted as I was at the end of my first time in Spain.
And after fifth place in the Giro, what spirit do you have going into the Vuelta?
Certainly with the ambition to do well. I will try to prepare as best as possible, hoping that there will be no unforeseen events.We'll see how it feels at the beginning. My ambition is to go there and try to get into the standings. So In July I will go to high altitude in Andorra with some companions, so I'll do the Vuelta Burgos and after a week we'll attack the Vuelta.
