Alessandra Giardini
April 14 – 8.37pm – EGNA (BOLZANO)
It was Ivan Basso who put a few extra pounds on him, all under pressure. “Piganzoli is the strongest Italian rider of his generation and I’m not saying this because he’s in the Polti-Kometa. He’s strong uphill and in time trials, I don’t see Italians like him at his age.” So here is Davide Piganzoli, who is going strong on climbs and in time trials and in less than three weeks he will make his debut at the Giro d’Italia. At twenty-one. Meanwhile, from Monday he is expected at the Tour of the Alps, which will start from Egna and end on Friday in Levico Terme.
“The dream of when I was a child and watched the Giro on TV is coming true, it doesn’t seem true to me. I’ll set off for the most beautiful race, and in an Italian team, it’s a strong emotion. The first Giro I remember was won by Ivan himself , it was his second, in 2010. I wasn’t yet eight years old, and because of him I fell in love with this sport. I liked it because he ran very emotionally, he wasn’t afraid to attack more, because in today’s cycling, those who take risks win. As a fan, I like it a lot, because it’s much more exciting than a few years ago, before everything was more obvious.”
History Born in Morbegno, in Valtellina, Piganzoli is one of the few talents we can focus on for the near future. At the beginning of the year there was the idea of making him debut at the Giro, the victories at the Tour of Antalya (a stage and the general classification) gave him extra confidence, and at the Tirreno-Adriatico he looked like a he. It’s not just Basso among his references when he looks around, or back. “My idol was definitely Nibali. But also Sagan.” Davide knows well that he will not escape the fate of the young Italian riders brought for stage races. As soon as he does well, we will say we have found the new Nibali. “I heard this rumor going around, that everyone is looking for this new Nibali. It will be an honor and a huge responsibility to hear it, but I have to work, he has to grow. We have Zanatta in the team who knows him well, and Ivan raced with Nibali. I have a long way to go.” Climb up Davide lives in San Marino, it is not uncommon for him to train on the streets of another legend. “I like Carpegna, it’s a climb I do often, I get excited, it’s full of writing, it always has an effect on me. It’s not strange that I saw Pantani’s exploits, he’s someone who made the history of cycling, every now and then even Ivan shows us some of them. Which one do I prefer? Second stage of this year’s Giro. “Oh yes. I don’t want to think about it now.” Starting tomorrow there is the Tour of the Alps, five stages, many climbs with a view of the Giro. “An anomalous race for the short stages and the 18 teams, 120 riders are not many. I have my sights set on the fourth stage, but if the opportunity presents itself I’ll take it first.” A young man who is strong on climbs (“especially the long and regular ones”) and in time trials, where he was Italian Under 23 champion (“in recent years I have neglected it a bit, but I’m working on it”) and who sooner or then we will ask to be the solution to the problems of Italian cycling. “I think it’s just a question of time, there was a strong generation, now we have to wait a few years but the young people will arrive. We have Bagioli, Aleotti.” Who knows what it’s like to debut in a Giro that everyone considers already won, or almost, by Tadej Pogacar. “We know that he is stronger, but anything can happen in a three-week race, and his biggest rivals know this. I would be happy to win a stage.” He has already chosen which one. “Definitely the one that arrives in Livigno. My girlfriend, Margherita, lives in Aprica, I often do the Mortirolo da Monno”. Today the first stop, from Egna to a miniature wonder, Cortina on the wine route.
The stages The 47th Tour of the Alps starts on Monday, between Alto Adige, Austrian Tyrol and Trentino: conclusion on Friday.
Monday 15 April, Stage 1: Egna-Cortina on the Wine Route, 133.3 km, 2,060 meters of altitude difference. Difficulty: ***
Tuesday 16 April, Stage 2: Salorno on the Stans Wine Route (Austria), 190.7 km, 2,510 meters of altitude difference. Difficulty: **
Wednesday 17 April, Stage 3, all in Austria: Schwaz-Schwaz, 124.8 km, 2,360 meters of altitude difference. Difficulty: ***
Thursday 18 April, Stage 4: Laives-Borgo Valsugana, 141.3 km, 3,830 meters of altitude difference. Difficulty: ****
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Friday 19 April, Step 5: Levico Terme-Levico Terme, 118.6 km, 2,490 meters of altitude difference. Difficulty: ***
