Today the 96th edition of the Tour of Tuscany (now also Memorial Alfredo Martini), 182 kilometers from Pontedera to Pontedera which will most likely be decided on the climb of Monte Serra, which the riders will tackle twice in the finale. We contacted someone who knows the climb not only well, but more, having ridden it an unspecified number of times in their careers, in the order of several thousand: Michele Bartoli (Instagram image at the top).
Bartoli was among the strongest classics riders between the 1990s and 2000s. His palmares includes, among others, two Liège-Bastogne-Liège, two Tours of Lombardy, one Tour of Flanders, one Flèche Wallonne, and one Amstel Gold RaceA career spanning more than twenty years, always lived in the shadow of Monte Serra, of which he knows every inch and every secret.
Michele, you know Monte Serra very well. How many times have you done it, hundreds?
I think many more. Keep in mind that It's the climb I've seen every moment of the day since I was a boyWhen I was a professional, I climbed it an average of 6-7 times a week. Some days I skipped it, while others I climbed it up to three times on different sides. So, with a rough estimate, I would say that I have definitely made the Serra several thousand times.
I imagine it was also your testing ground, where you tested your form before the big events.
Exact. Knowing him so well, I was able to immediately understand his condition and grasp the nuances of my feelings. I don't remember a particular occasion where I understood that I would win an important race, but certainly I did it in preparation for the two Lombardy races that I wonIt was customary to do it, along with two other climbs in the area, to get the best sensations. You know, riders sometimes need this kind of confirmation.
You'll also be very familiar with the face we'll be climbing today, from Calci. What's it like?
Sure, although to tell the truth that We didn't do it much, because it's very hard at the beginning and at the end, but in the middle it smooths out a bit. We almost always went from Colle di Compito or Buti, where they descend tomorrow, because the climb there is more regular and was good for doing the various training sessions. In any case, it's tough even from CalciThe first two kilometers are really challenging, as are the last two, two and a half, with peaks that even reach above 10 percent. So there is no doubt that will be decisive, especially during the second pass.
I can imagine what it must have been like to do it over twenty years ago. Do you remember what kind of gear you used to climb?
Yes, in my time obviously there weren't the ratios we have today, there wasn't a 28 in the back, but maybe not even a 25. We made the Serra with 41×16 or 41×17 maximumSometimes even with 53, but only for specific strength work. In any case, those gear ratios were more than enough to make me and my training partners fight on those ramps.
That?
Please note that in those years the Lucca and Versilia areas were like Calpe in Spain now, many teams came there for training campsThe Serra was the most popular climb. I trained very often. with Scinto and Sciandri, but also with Tani and Sorensen. And the Serra was the ideal terrain for competing and hurting each other, as they say in slang.
Did you always win?
I don't always think so, sometimes even others could find the day good, but let's say that being from the area I had an advantage, come on…
Do you still hear from them? Might it be nice to organize a reunion for you on Monte Serra?
Yes, the relationship remained excellent, We had so much fun together, they were really beautiful yearsWe were even adversaries with some of them, but first and foremost we were friends. I'd love to organize a reunion, even though everyone has their own commitments right now, including me. Two of them are sports directors, and we're far away. Sorensen, for example, lives in Denmark. But why not? It could be a great idea. Maybe we could organize it with you guys at bici.PRO...
