When will he move to Milan to take up the position of superintendent of La Scala, will work a few kilometers from Piazzale Loreto where the Giro d’Italia took place for the first time on 13 May 1909. There is a thin thread that binds Fortunato Ortombina, current artistic director and superintendent of the Fenice in Venice, and the pink race: he, a huge bicycle enthusiast, between a Don Giovanni and an opera by Verdi, takes advantage of every opportunity for a ride with his White or to look at yourself a stage on television.
Maestro, how did you get into cycling?
«It’s a passion that comes from afar, already at the age of 3 they bought me one with wheels. I was born in Mantua, the 1964 Giro d’Italia involved the Provinciale, I was 4 years old and I heard the fans talking about Gimondi. I have a clear memory of the group passing by and the sound of the chains. I have always followed races, I had a touring bike then 35 years ago I switched to a real racing one.”
What are the sounds of cycling?
«They are not noises but sounds. Those of the pedals, the chain, the tire pumped to 8 atmospheres on the asphalt but also that of the brakes and the wind in your ears. Then there is the sound of the Giro which arrives preceded by a few seconds of silence between the sirens of the escort motorbikes and the passing of runners, when all the enthusiasts are silent before exploding. In the mountain stages, the pleasure is given by the shout of the fans positioned a few bends before announcing the arrival of the pacesetters”.
Who could be the Mozart of two wheels?
«We imagine Mozart as in the film Amadeus, when he amazed everyone as a child. I must say that Pogacar is very similar to him due to his naturalness. They also call him “the baby”, it seems like it was made on purpose.”
You are one of the greatest connoisseurs of Verdi, who is the athlete who is closest to him?
«In his extraordinary essentiality Verdi makes you understand how you must always measure yourself with time and nature which are immensely bigger than you. This is also the essence of two wheels where man is alone and tied to the earth. There is no runner who is closer to Verdi, cycling is exactly that and the best at interpreting him is the one who knows how to take all these things into account. So how can you not think about Pogacar. His lungs appear to belong to another person. At maximum effort he smiles and greets the public, it means that he respects that nature that can wear your legs out.”
Let’s move on to the race, will we see a sprint today in Padua?
«It’s a long descent towards Prato della Valle, maybe I could do it too (laughs, ed.). Jokes aside, the biggest difficulties are linked to speed, there will be many who risk going at over 60 per hour.”
On Saturday you will tackle Grappa twice, but is it true that you also climbed it twice?
«Yes, but not on the same day (laughs, ed.). I went up from Romano d’Ezzelino, it’s a very hard climb, there are endless straights at 12% where there are no hairpin bends to rest your leg. To understand, Pordoi is much easier.”
How is Italian cycling doing?
«The last decade of true domination dates back to 25 years ago and yet foreigners were there even then. In Nibali’s period he was the spearhead but the context was already limping.”
The champion you are most attached to?
«Among the greats of the past, two myths: Alfredo Binda, also a musician (he played the trumpet) and from Mantua, the first champion I heard about was Learco Guerra, the human locomotive. I was a big fan of Francesco Moser. But the truth is that I have never been able not to root for Eddy Merckx. I was also on a pilgrimage to Brussels to the house where he grew up and in front of which a monument has already been erected. There’s no one like him.”
Is it really safe?
«When they asked Callas what she thought of Tebaldi, she replied “Tebaldi sings dramatic roles well, but has never covered light soprano roles” knowing full well that she couldn’t do it. Until I see Pogacar achieve the same number of successes as the Cannibal, I remain of my opinion.”
But can the Slovenian achieve the Giro-Tour double?
«I’m not so sure, in this pink race he gave a lot and for the yellow jersey there will be other interpreters such as Vingegaard, Evenepoel, Roglic, Van Aert. We’ll see, but I hope so.”
One last thought.
“To everyone, I recommend safety.”
