«There's snow at home – laughs Chirico – down there it's 18 degrees. If I think that the other day I did a workout with the shark at minus two, I think I'm never going back up…».
Like a cat
Luca Chirico has more lives than a catThe Varese native, met on the top of Etna, today wears the Androni shirt, but going back in his career, There are more times when he was on the verge of quitting than when he risked winning.The story is complex and involves two femoral artery surgeries, a few too many falls, unspecified misunderstandings, and a whole series of coincidences thanks to which he's still in the group. The fact that we're here talking about him isn't due to an act of clemency, but rather to the memory of when Luca was an Italian athlete who competed in two world championships as a junior and U23, and to the curiosity to understand. How much brainpower is needed to not ruin everything.
The Turkish stage
«The times when I really risked quitting – he says at the bar table of the Rifugio Sapienza – there were a couple. In 2016 I had my first artery problem and the team (Bardiani-Csf, ed.) didn't confirm me. It seemed like I was going to have to stop, but I had the operation precisely to ride a bike and so I found the Turkish team: TorkuI did well there and signed with Androni, but due to a bit of an artery problem and a bit of misunderstanding, we terminated the contract. If I think back to that period, I trusted the wrong people, but it happens and I didn't have the ability to react either. Then it seemed like I was supposed to start in June with Nippo, where Cunego was leaving, but nothing came of it..."
Twice blue
That alone would have been enough. Chirico has light eyes that never stay still and a speech in fits and starts that also gives a good idea of the rider he was and still trying to be. He's not an easy character. In competition, he manages to transform himself beyond his limits, just as, if things aren't going well, he throws himself down. A sprinter who's quick on the climbs and then fast in the sprint. Someone who, if you take him on the breakaway and get distracted, could really screw you over. A man tailor-made for theAndroni Toys, even if wearing this shirt again wasn't exactly easy.
So we're halfway through 2018 and Chirico is without a team…
I had already put it there, after seven months without runningPeople who kept passing by as professionals, who would have taken me? I was 26, not even that old. Luck was... meeting Giampietro Foletti in mid-2018 of Asteel, the communications and marketing agency that supports Androni. And he began to believed in me and encouraged me to trainAnd Fabio Aru started doing the same thing. And so I kept pedaling. I've come to have a new connection with Savio and Bellini and for 2020 I returned with Androni.
The year of Covid, perfect for starting over...
But in the end it went well too. I restarted from Malaysia, but I crashed and retired. Then the Savoie Mont Blanc at the restart after a lot of work with Aru in SestriereThe first race where I had a good feeling was the Italian championship, while I'm not happy with the Giro. I had a good time here in Sicily, but as soon as we passed through there I always had breathing problems. Furthermore I lacked confidence in racing and in finishing in top positionsAt the Coppi e Bartali I was about to launch my beautiful sprint in Forlì, convinced I would do well, but Bagioli swerved and I ended up on the ground…
Do you think your story would have been different without so many setbacks?
I lost a lot, especially from the two operations. I have so many regretsI came from World Championship in Offida for the juniors and the one in Ponferrada for the U23sI could have had a great career. I certainly didn't get back what I gave. However I think I still have some room for improvementAnd with the Giro in his legs, 2021 could really be the first year well done.
You train with Bartoli, right?
I got there through Ulissi, with whom I train in LuganoHe put me in touch with him, because they worked together for a long time. And I immediately got along well with Michele, also considering that I hadn't had a trainer for two years.
Michele says you can achieve more than you've shown so far and that the business he's been doing in recent years hasn't been solid at all…
After the last test, a few days ago, he told me that we are three steps ahead of last year at the same time. I had lost strength and staminaAt home I used to do 5-hour runs, but it's never the same as doing them in a race. The Giro, as I said, gave me a good foundation.
What did you say about hanging out with Shark?
I often train with Vincenzo and every time it is extremely motivatingHe always gives advice, we talk a lot and he manages to give me tips on training, running and life which are very important to me. I have a lot to learn. Plus, training uphill with him is like when you go beyond your limits in a raceThe altitude rises significantly and the time passes more easily. The other day we decided to climb up to a thousand meters. It was two degrees below zero, a meter of snow and ice on the roadBut we got there and almost had a good time. He also came to Sicily for New Year's Eve, and the weather here is incredible. But now we hope to leave again.
From Laigueglia?
I should have started in San Juan, now let's see. From February 11th to 24th we will be on retreat in Liguria And there we'll make our plans, waiting for invitations from RCS. For us, going to the Giro would be the turning point of the season.
After the six hours and 4.000 meters of altitude difference on Wednesdayì, celebrated with 80 grams of plain pasta with tomato on the side, on Thursday Chirico granted himself a day of rest. A stroll by the sea and cannoli.
"It's a red zone here too," he joked, "but it's sunny. You get your coffee, you take it outside and everything seems normal. Here, if you stay out for coffee, you freeze…».
