REGGIO EMILIA – “I am very attached to this area which is good for cycling”. Sonny Colbrelli and a heart, in part, from Reggio Emilia.
The winner of Paris-Roubaix 2021Italian and European champion in the same year, was in Reggio in recent days for the presentation of the 52nd edition of the Granfondo Matildica. A competition that will see him start on August 25th in a territory that has given him so much in the five seasons, from 2013 to 2016, in which he wore the jersey of Bardiani Csf by Bruno Reverberi.
“For me, Reggio Emilia is my second home – said the former cyclist from Desenzano sul Garda – I lived here for five years with Bruno and Roberto Reverberi of Barbiani and I feel at home. I savored these places when I was training on a bicycle and I must say that they make many people envious.”
Colbrelli, after the successes of 2021, was forced to retire the following year due to a heart problem. A situation that does not weigh on the former cyclist, now sporting director of Bahrain Victorius. “Since I stopped I enjoy the view, cycling and I stop at the bar more often – he said half seriously and half jokingly – No longer having my mind in the competition I enjoy the landscapes and the most important thing”.
His presence in Reggio was also linked to the ‘Parole in Movimento’ project which saw the Municipality of Reggio and the Panizzi Library at the forefront. Colbrelli spoke about the book “With the heart in the mud” written with Marco Pastonesi and released in 2022. Going to current events, there was no lack of a passage on the Tour de France which will cross Tuscany, Emilia Romagna and Piedmont. “As an Italian I am envious because I would have liked to be present at this historic start – he admitted – It is the first time in history that the Tour de France starts from Italy with three important stages in regions that were born on bread and cycling. As an Italian, I’m really proud because it will be three days of celebration.”
