All of a sudden. From not having won a single stage, to doing a double. After Alberto Dainese, today he puts the crown on Stefano Oldani. "A rider who stole nothing," as he says Lorenzo Rota, he who was beaten.
Genoa is squeezed between the sea and the mountains. Francesco De Gregori He talks about its "deadly junctions," but beyond the improbable turns and narrow alleys, there are these large avenues. Long straights as wide as Parisian boulevards. Wide avenues that are beautiful if you're driving without traffic or walking the dog, but become endless if you're playing a stage of the Giro d'Italia.
The breakaway took a long time to get going. The first hour averaged nearly 57 km/h. Oldani was already close to VdP. On the descent of the Bocco we passed in front of the stele that commemorates Wouter Weylandt, who passed away here in May 2011
The breakaway took a long time to get going. The first hour averaged nearly 57 km/h. Oldani was already close to VdP. On the descent of the Bocco we passed in front of the stele that commemorates Wouter Weylandt, who passed away here in May 2011
Basso's prophecy
From the last bend, exactly a thousand meters away, the finish line was in sight. A tense finish, as they say in the jargon. Of the day's large breakaway, only three made it: Rota, Oldani and Leemreize, young Dutch thorn in the side.
A thorn that proves to be a sharp one. He attacks twice in those thousand meters. Perhaps he had the legs, but he certainly doesn't have the timing and gearing yet. When he started, he was really too tough. Oldani is a cat and closes in immediately.
"Vince Oldani," he says dryly Iván Basso behind the finish line. Maybe he knows it, having had it when Stefano was at the Fundacion Kometa.
But meanwhile, the meters tick by. The straight stretch seems endless. The first burst of fire ends with a stalemate. There are still three of them.
Five hundred meters. The Dutchman is on the right. Oldani and Rota are on the left. It's no longer about being a sprinter, but about having strength. All three have their hands in low grips, ready to explode. Leemreize looks to the left, the two Italians to the right.
Three hundred meters. They're going very slowly. It's almost a track race. Once again, it's the Dutchman who takes the lead. And once again, it's Oldani who closes the gap.
Rota doesn't give up
Rota seems to be in great shape, right behind Stefano. He "just" has to overtake him. The rider from Jumbo Visma instead it's out.
«I never thought about anticipating the sprint "We were all tired," Rota says, "and with three of us it's very difficult... and risky. And in fact, the Dutchman tried, but he was caught. I was thinking about the sprint. I knew Stefano was fast, but that's how I'd decided to go. And even if the speed had been higher, it wouldn't have changed anything."
"I have no regrets. Stefano didn't steal anything. It's the races. I can't help but be happy. I'm growing. I've been away from racing for almost two months. My legs are good. Even the other day I had done a good job for Girmay and today I was fine. So much so that I myself decided to leave with 60-70 kilometers to go. Precisely because I had the energy. And since I have the energy, I'll try again."
Rota has no regrets. And it shows. His tone of voice is serious, yes, but also calm and sincere. Meanwhile, he arrives. Taaramae who pats him on the shoulder: "Good job, Lore," Lorenzo. He turns his bike around and heads back to the bus.
Screams of joy
The one who remains in the finish area is Oldani. After throwing himself to the ground, emitting cries of joy mixed with emotion, the Lombard gets up. He heads behind the stage for awards ceremonies, TV interviews, anti-doping...
Van der Poel, arrived for a walk and almost caught by the group 8′ behind, he hugs him. It's the second victory for the Alpecin Fenix.
"That hug was another wave of emotions," Oldani says, "and it's wonderful to receive it from a champion like him. Ditto my scream and my throwing myself to the ground after the finish line. It was a natural, spontaneous reaction, an emptying of emotionsI was really eager to get there. I hadn't won for four years, since my second season as an under-23. I missed raising my arms to the sky."
From emotions to the road. Oldani ran masterfully. Even managing well the pressure of those who know they are the fastest.
"I wasn't familiar with these roads," he says, "but then, right at the end, I recognized the ending. I actually rode the Giro Appennino with the U19 national team several years ago.
I knew I was the fastest, but I didn't think about it. I didn't want to imagine the sprint. Then Lorenzo and I know each other well, we talk often in the group, and I told him: "Ciccio, let's go to the finish line, let's not look at each other. Let's sprint and may the strongest man win. I didn't want to feel any regrets, nor even think about having to close the deal on him. I figured, as it turned out, that the Dutchman would try.
"And then I didn't want to think too much about the sprint because I already go on so many mental journeys myself! And if I started thinking about the victory or how great it would have been to win a stage at the Giro and then I didn't manage it... forget it."
Unscheduled
Like yesterday for Dainese, Stefano wasn't supposed to be "doing the running". The leader was none other than Van der Poel.
«The plan was to be at least one of the riders in the breakaway of the day – says Oldani – But if it had been numerous, we should have been more. We didn't want to repeat the mistake of Naples. And in fact, in the end, there were three of us. Obviously, Mathieu was the leader.
«I think you can see that more than once I went to get him ice, gels, water bottles... And also when I left it was just to pick up the pace and not let Rota go (that's why VdP was pulling at a certain point while Oldani was in front, ed.). Then a certain gap opened up and at that point I tried».
When everything is against you
But Stefano's difficulties weren't just those of a domestique who finds himself in the breakaway. That post-finish scream also reflected the fact that he paid dearly for his move to the WorldTour in the year of Covid, and also the fact that he wasn't able to go to the training camp in Spain with the team due to the issue of hypobaric chamber, prohibited for Italian athletes.
"The whole hypobaric chamber thing leaves me disappointed," Stefano says seriously. "Disappointed in our movement, because it's an old issue that no one has addressed anymore. I believe that only one or two countries in the world no longer allow these types of training. This shocks me and shows how far behind we are on certain issues."
«More than three-quarters of the group uses it. Someone should think about this. We Italians are at a disadvantage. Before the Giro, I spent two weeks at high altitude on Mount Etna alone, when my team was all in Spain, in these hotels with hypobaric chambers.
«They not only trained better together, they worked as a team, they had mechanics, masseurs… I didn't. And every time I wanted to get back up there I had to climb for an hour because I didn't have a car with me."
To avoid the worst junctions, we entered Genoa from the motorway and passed over the San Giorgio bridge. What a cheer for Carapaz! When he arrived, Richard returned the greeting.
To avoid the worst junctions, we entered Genoa from the motorway and passed over the San Giorgio bridge. What a cheer for Carapaz! When he arrived, Richard returned the greeting.
From Genoa to Sanremo
But it's time to rejoice, to give thanks. To Basso who taught him so much, to Colpack who made him grow, to those who always supported him and to his girlfriend, Lavinia… who feeds him well! In fact, Oldani, despite his name as a chef, says he is hopeless in the kitchen.
«Luckily she's here, otherwise I'd only eat canned food! It keeps me fed properly."
And speaking of dinners and meals, since he moved from Milan to Como, he no longer trains alone and slaloms through traffic a little less.
"Since I've been in Como, everything's improved. Before, I always went out alone. Even for the Sanremo Festival, I did seven hours alone. Now I often go out with Cataldo, Nicelo, Dancers…there are a lot of us riders. “Ballero,” who was in the breakaway, said to me, “Oh, today is for you.” And I replied, “Can’t you see I’m being a domestique?”
«I have a wonderful relationship with him. This winter, we've been out to dinner together practically every night. Either I'm at his place, or he's at mine. Chatting, board games…».
