ASIAGO – A chaos ensued on the narrow finish line road, amidst the throng of cameras, microphones, lenses, masseurs, and press officers. In the midst of it all, Gianmarco Garofoli stands still in the middle without saying a word, no one near him. Seventh at the finish line, 26 seconds from VeronaThe stage saw him in the breakaway and then answer first to the Spanish, unfortunately without being able to connect with himNot even when Zana arrived and the two of them couldn't do much more.
His father, Gianluca, was among us before we arrived with a tablet in his hand and his phone glowing red hot. Also this time he followed his son, but tomorrow will come home and will reappear for the Bormio stageThe two look incredibly similar, and when we asked him how he saw Gianmarco in the breakaway, he let slip a bittersweet joke.He has three broken ribs from the Naples stage, I don't know how he can keep goingI bought him a sling, we made it tight, but it can't be said that it fits well."
We give him time to catch his breath and reconnect his thoughts. He stares at a point ahead, sweat beads on his face.As we approach, he looks at us, his smile a little bitter and a little surprised by what he's done. All around, nothing shows any sign of calming down. People are pushing, coming and going. At a certain point... to the young man from the Marche region Soudal-Quick Step James Knox approaches, He reached 1'59". He puts a hand on the back of his neck, compliments him, and asks how he's feeling. He mumbles something and the other man walks away.
Three broken ribs?
Oh, three broken ribs. They're making themselves felt. I've been on the run since the beginning of the day. The first time we were around thirty, then when the pink jersey group caught up with us, we tried againI gave it my all until the end, but this was a very tough stage. My ribs hurt, my legs even more.This is real pain, oh my, I'm tired.
Last year at the Vuelta you dropped out in the third week: do you think it will be the same here?
Yes, there's a chance. Look, I have to be honest. Last night I couldn't sleep, I didn't sleep because my ribs hurt so bad. So this morning I thought several times about not leavingThen I told myself to try and see how it goes: if today I go strong, I'll continue. And today I got the answer that the condition is thereI have to continue (he smiles, ed.).
Was the plan for you to go on the run?
I had to try to understand if I should continue, because In the last three stages I was in really, really great pain.All in all, Monte Grappa was the easiest part. The hardest climb, in my opinion, was the 16-kilometer Enego climb. I attacked her from the beginning, I tried to follow Verona, but she always kept me there and didn't let me come back.It was really tough, I remembered that climb, because I had won there as a student.
During all this, did the vibrations from the road make themselves felt in your side?
They hurt a lot, guys, they're not cracked, they're actually broken. It takes a lot of brains and a lot of balls to move forward.
Time for the last joke and then a masseur comes to slip him out the bicycle, drawn for mechanical inspectionAt this point Garofoli, not knowing what to do, sits down on the ground. This is where we join him to shoot. the short video posted last night on Instagram. Time to step back and his girlfriend approaches. And right here, far from goals and questions, Gianmarco breaks down in a liberating cry which gives an idea of the tensions he had been subjected to since the night before, of the pain that had almost convinced him to give up and of the immense pride that brought him here to recount his feat (at the top, photo Soudal-Quick Step). They are cyclists, they have brains and characterIt's nice to experience certain moments alongside them.
