A victory awaited for three years. A victory with many meanings, which go beyond the specific value of the race, the final stage of the Tour of Istanbul. Which also presented a good level parterre with a WorldTour team (theAstana) and 5 Professional. A victory that brings back a smile and a pinch of optimism to Davide Gabburo, the rider of the VF Group Bardiani CSF Faizané that savours an almost forgotten taste.
It is curious that the victory comes after three years, again in Türkiye. Then in AlanyaThis time in Istanbul, in a new race, perhaps it was destiny, the desire to start over, to set out again. "I've waited a long time," says the thirty-one-year-old rider from Bovolone. "It was just what I needed after such a long time. It makes me rediscover the desire to challenge myself in cycling., to try, to not just rush to help your teammates."
The serious crisis of March
There is a lot in these three years, so much so that a distinction must be made between the period before 2024 and the events of this year: «After the victory in Alanya I did not disappear into thin air. Just think of the second place in the Naples stage of the 2022 Giro, but also to many other placings, even outside Italy. In that edition of the Giro d'Italia, I was there, battling with the best, and I really was just a breath away from raising my arms to the sky."
This year, however, things were very different: «In March I was admitted to the hospital for a seizure. After time and investigations, after my sporting activity had been blocked, it was established that it was a syncopal episode, probably dictated by a stressful situation. All this a month before the Giro d'Italia, which for me means everything: not being able to go made my world fall apart."
A second chance
Davide doesn't hide it. In those days, he had a strong feeling, but you could also say a fear, that his cycling career was over.There were moments when I was overcome with despair, I thought I would never recover. Only I know how much I had to "work hard" for medical visits, for tests. Especially to find appointments quickly because I absolutely wanted to get back to racing. For me, rejoining the caravan was something indefinable, I can truly say that Life gave me a second chance and for this reason I threw myself into the business with even more ardour, because I know very well what it means to not be able to run anymore and it's a feeling I don't want to experience anymore."
The recovery was slow, constant, committing himself as he always did in favor of his teammates: «I never failed to give my support, but in the meantime I felt that the condition was slowly improving.Then came the test in Turkey, and already in the second stage I realized I could play my cards, having taken 4th place in a nervous stage, with many climbs. On the last stage, in the pouring rain, I finally closed the circle."
Turkey brings good luck…
The sprint also had some thrilling moments: the most feared was the Belgian Timothy Dupont (Isorex Tartlet) who however lost control of his bike at 400 metres, leaving the road open to his opponents: «We had the train ready for Enrico Zanoncello – explains Gabburo – but I had a free hand to try it anyway as an alternative and at 300 meters I sprinted without encountering any resistance. Even ending up leaving their opponents behind (opening photo, ed.)».
The Tour of Istanbul was a new race on the calendar, where Turkey is starting to become a fairly frequent destination for professionals, and Gabburo has a good deal of experience in their races: "It's a little different from the others. I really like Turkish races, but that one showed all the signs of inexperience and organizational confusion. It's a shame because the routes were really beautiful and varied, not even particularly easy. The final test passed through all the main points of the city, including the Eurasian Bridge.».
We're off to Malaysia
And now? «Now we continue, on Wednesday we leave for the Tour of Langkawi which with its 8 stages has many opportunities for me but also for the others, for example the third stage with an uphill finish was marked in red by the team leaders. I will work for my teammates, but I know that the Malaysian track offers some useful sprint opportunities for me too and I will try to be ready.».
