BASSANO DEL GRAPPA – «When he caught me he told me to get behind me. I tried but it was too fast and there were still three kilometers to the summit. That pace was a sprint for me. I went from 350 to 600 wattst”. Tadej Pogacar which resumes Giulio Pellizzari. This is the “photo” of today and, perhaps, of the whole Tour of Italy. It certainly is for the Marche region.
It had already happened on Monte Pana that Pogacar defeated Pellizzari, but this time this recovery has a gigantic value. This time Pellizzari was on the run alone. This time it was a long stage.
And in all this the crowd goes crazy. The one on the side of the road. The one upon arrival in Bassano and the one on television.
For himself and for the people
As soon as he arrives, the VF Group-Bardiani rider leans against the barriers. He sits down. He is out of breath, but shortly after he is ready to tell the story. An impressive recovery. Not a secondary aspect. He means he’s fine.
Pellizzari is a river full of emotions: «I absolutely wanted to take that Gpm, because I wanted to wear the blue jersey in Rome tomorrow, even if it’s not mine. I didn’t think I’d earned so much when I left.”
«On the last climb I gave everything. And maybe at a certain point I even believed it. There were so many people on the street screaming my name and telling me to believe it. “Go on, it’s yours”. I was cheating! But that cheering helped. It was like having an extra leg. I was here in 2014 as a child to see Quintana and today I was there: an absurd emotion.”
Looking ahead
That kid, under 23 first year, who we met at the Giro della Valle d’Aosta, coincidentally fighting for the Gpm jersey, he seems very far away. And instead it’s a story from just two summers ago. We shared a hotel and every evening we talked a little. But in terms of spontaneity it’s the same.
«All the Grappa – continues Giulio – was a great emotion, then when I saw Pogacar what could I do? I just thought about going all out and trying to hold it but he was going too much, too fast. I was just hoping to get as close to him as possible. Probably if Tadej hadn’t been there I would now have two victories in the Giro.”
Earlier we mentioned Giulio’s recovery, a fundamental quality for those aiming for the Grand Tours. Having finished the Giro well, having been such a protagonist in the third week, after even overcoming some ailments, has a gigantic significance from a future perspective.
«My Giro hadn’t started exactly the way I wanted – continues the rider – Someone even told me that I wasn’t ready for this and for the jump into the WorldTour: I just wanted to prove the opposite, so I’m happy for this too.
«This morning I heard Massimiliano Gentili (his diesse among the juniors, ed.) and he told me: “Prove that on the twentieth day you are this”».
Tonelli, who drives
But today his team was also good, as they were throughout the Giro. The VF Group-Bardiani has always tried and towards Bassano they managed to create a team game between the giants. The help of Alessandro Tonelli it was functional… and beautiful.
«This morning – said Tonelli – the idea was to take Giulio on the run with one of me, Fiorelli or Tarozzi. But then I entered and Giulio only moved on the first pass over the Grappa. I stayed in front but without pushing too much. Also because they took the climb as if the finish line was three kilometers away. I managed myself. Then when Giulio came out I only thought about helping him.
«Of course, on the downhill stretch it was a bit frenetic. He made me spend a lot, maybe without that effort I would have been able to help him a little more later.”
Tonelli not only shot, he took it the Intergirobut he thought about Pellizzari even after he left him.
«In the short stretch on the flat between the two Grappas I told him to eat, hydrate and above all to manage the climb, because the climb would last an hour. Two thirds of uphill Roberto (Reverbs, ed.) kept me updated. I felt that Giulio was holding well. Then Pogacar came out. But we knew…”
Future Pellizzari
Cycling can become as technical and futuristic as it wants, but the core remains this: the boy who attacks uphill. It’s the emotion, the dream.
And we cannot fail to insist on Pellizzari’s courage and on that handful of kilometers with Pogacar.
«When Tadej took me back – continues the man from the Marche – I thought of him last year at the Tour, when going through a crisis he said: “I’m gone, I’m dead”. I was thinking about how others say this phrase today… and me too.”
And now Rome
The fact that he kept the pace of the best, having already been out for over an hour, in the second passage over Grappa is not a trivial thing.
«Resistance – continues Pellizzari – is somewhat of my strong point. I tried to proceed regularly. I climbed it both times at the same pace. Grappa is really hard, but it’s the type of climb I like».
«I’m happy with my Giro d’Italia. Many fans asked me for a stage, but now I’m also happy that it’s over because I’m really tired».
Giulio Pellizzari at 9.45pm, like the whole caravan, will fly towards Rome. The suitcase that he will load on the plane will contain an extra experience… and obviously the glasses and the pink jersey that Pogacar gave him on Monte Pana.
