Winning, winning big, exaggerating. In the middle stages, in my spare time, even pull the sprints for the team’s sprinter. Is he liked or disliked? Is he intelligent or suicidal? The Orthodox speak of a crazy strategy, which is bad for oneself (spends too much), but above all it is bad for others, because it ends up burdening them with frustrations and resentments, waiting for inexorable revenge. There is also a tailor-made, confectionery-style metaphor: racing is a cake, you have to leave a slice for everyone.
Others, however, struggle to understand, but what gifts, but what unwritten laws, the strongest must win as many times as he can, to honor the race, to honor the work of your teammates, to honor those who pay for it, and ultimately to enjoy the best moment of your life, which is never infinite.
But then, what champion do we want: a Cannibal Teddy – as it is, as its model was in the 60s-70s – or a Teddy in Caritas versionready to give to charity, maybe even interested in making friends along the way?
To get a feel for the climate, upon leaving Avezzano I start a very personal survey. I report here some of the significant answers.
Beppe Saronni (Teddy’s Italian mentor): “When your leg slips like that, it’s difficult to apply the brakes. Calculations and gifts are made when you struggle and are at the limit: but that doesn’t happen in Pogacar, here in the Giro. Too much difference. It seems to me that he already respected them enough in Prati di Tivo, limiting himself to sprinting…”.
Damiano Caruso (adversary and wise man of the group): “The team works for him, he does his thing and wins. If I had a partner like that, I would be happy to help him succeed every day. Diplomacy, unwritten laws, favors, gifts? Nothing exists anymore, everything is over. This is a new cycling. Whoever is stronger wins. Nobody gives you anything. In his place I would do the same.”
Roberto Damiani (his rival): “Unwritten laws? Under-the-table calculations? But for God’s sake. After you work all day, the real scandal is if you lose, not if you win. Does he make himself unpleasant? How I would like to be very unpleasant…”.
Mauro Gianetti (big boss of Pogacar): “This is beautiful, new cycling. There is a generation of champions who race in a courageous, unscrupulous, spectacular way. I would define it as freer cycling. Yes, they are free kids. Of course, even making mistakes. And in any case Pogacar and the other phenomena race to win, not against anyone. It’s the new mentality: we play sports, we are here to win, not to put on the brakes. Pogacar doesn’t make friends like this? When you’re in trouble, no one is waiting for you anyway.”
This and other. Sincerely, I have also met several former runners who instead sulk, that gentleman doesn’t respect anyone now, but one day everything will return, who Seeds wind shall harvest storm, and then he shouldn’t be surprised if no one holds out their hand to him. The famous “unwritten laws of the group”, between barracks hazing and various mafias. As it once was, yes. Even in Merckx’s time, however…
If I don’t disturb the referendum, I’ll close with my opinion, for what it’s worth. In 2024, two Giri d’Italia are now taking place. Teddy’s, without opponents. And that of others, Tour Two, where leveling is king, but below (hoping that soon our Tiberi will pop up there). Every day the two Giri meet on the same roads, but they have nothing to do with each other. It is useless to hope that the rules of Tour two apply to Teddy’s Tour: there they speak another language, and there is no way to understand each other.
