In some ways he is also a long distance runner. Dario Nardella, forty-five years old, married, father of three childrena law degree and a conservatory diploma in violin is the first citizen of one of the most beautiful cities in the world: Florence.
In some ways he too is a long distance runner, we were saying, in fact the mayor of the lily city is a patient and resistant man, ready and strong-willed, who experiences the long wait with justified emotion for the Grand Départ from Italy. From his Florence, from Tuscany and Emilia Romagna, up to Piedmont.
Twenty-one days from the dream. From a dream that comes true, but which has distant roots. A thought arose on the occasion of the World Cup in Florence in 2013. An event followed and appreciated, especially attended by many enthusiasts. «It was a success across the board and it was precisely at that moment that I began to think that something more could be done – raccount to tuttobiciweb the first citizen of the city of the Medici -. AND what’s bigger than a world championship? The Tour de Francethe most televised sporting event in the world after the Olympics and the football World Cup which, however, are held every four years”.
In 2013 Dario Nardella was deputy mayor of Florence (Matteo Renzi’s deputy, ed.) with responsibility for sport and consequently he was also president of the promoting committee of the world championship week. «I understood the impact that those world championships had had on the city and on the entire world of cycling and I understood how much there was a desire to experience major global events in our city – continues Nardella -. So I started to establish relationships with Tour director Christian Prudhomme and French friends. We tried a first nomination in 2014, but we lost by very little to Leeds: that would later be Vincenzo Nibali’s Tour, a fantastic flight which in any case contributed to coloring that edition in the Italian flag. Despite that narrow defeat, I never stopped cultivating that dream and the turning point, as Prudhomme himself said in Paris, on the occasion of the solemn presentation to the international press, was when in 2020 in the midst of the Covid emergency, I sent a message with a completely empty photo of Florence, with the writing: “Florence beautiful and sad. Who knows if we will be able to make our dream come true”. The number one of Aso (the organization that organizes the Tour, ed.) was very impressed and only told me about it later, after years of waiting. In the meantime we decided to change direction and team up with Stefano Bonaccini and Emilia Romagna and subsequently also with Piedmont which allowed us to face the economic challenge with greater serenity (about 6 million euros, ed.).
Davide Cassani played an important role.
«Yes, Cassani and Bonaccini were fundamental in achieving the completion of this project, as were the relationships maintained by the undersigned with Prudhomme over ten years. These two factors were really important: Bonaccini-Cassani and myself were an excellent combination.”
Can you already smell Tour?
«The French cousins recently confirmed to me that there is a lot of waiting for them too, underlining that the start from Florence is the most eagerly awaited among the editions starting from outside their national borders».
Have you ever practiced cycling?
«I have always had a great passion for this sport and I also have one big regret: never having met Gino Bartali, a man and runner of immense greatness. A mythological and romantic figure who marked the history of our country. Returning to his question, I practice cycling, when I can I get on my bicycle. I have a beautiful Canyon, although since I became mayor I have had to reduce my outings: I have a lot of commitments and cycling is a very demanding sport that requires a lot of commitment. It’s not enough to just take a half-hour walk, you don’t need anything at all.”
Do you have a cycling figure in your heart?
«More than one, although at the top of my list is Alfredo Martini, a man of great wisdom, intelligence and sensitivity. A giant. Do you know what I think?”.
What?
«That cycling is the most romantic sport of all».
He will also have met many other runners over the years…
«If you are mayor of Florence and live in Tuscany you cannot avoid meeting cycling excellences such as Paolo Bettini and Alessandro Petacchi, Andrea Tafi, Michele Bartoli and Mario Cipollini, just to name a few».
His champions from when he was a kid?
«Two: Mario Cipollini and Marco Pantani: two artists. Two absolute champions of infinite greatness. Mark’s human parable then pained me deeply.”
Among foreigners?
«Miguel Indurain. Elegant and very strong, it’s just a shame that our Gianni Bugno and Claudio Chiappucci succumbed to his pedal strokes. However, undeniably, Miguel was a champion of elegance, elegance and style.”
What do you ask of the Tour?
«I expect an unforgettable edition that will remain forever in the history of the Grande Boucle. The relationship between Italian and French cycling is so deep and true that it cannot be otherwise. The historical relationship between Florence and France is made to be told and has everything to be an important story. “Mutatis mutandis”, I think that this Tour will also be a great event of brotherhood between two peoples with a great sporting and cultural tradition who have always experienced a healthy rivalry, with equal sportsmanship. We challenged each other on everything: from wine to culture, from cheese to football and at a time when tensions are always so high between states, I hope that the Tour can establish a new season of friendship and collaboration between our two Villages. I hope that this “Italian Tour” will also rekindle the love for this sport among Italians, just as Sinner has rekindled enthusiasm, love and interest in tennis. I also hope that our country will once again become a hotbed of talent, a pool of new champions. Unfortunately we don’t have an Italian World Tour team, even though our friend Davide Cassani tried with great commitment and I hope that that hope hasn’t faded.”
Since you make dreams come true, why don’t you try to help Cassani create an Italian team?
«I don’t rule it out a priori: it would be the first step towards what we could define as a Renaissance of Italian cycling in the world. And Florence, Tuscany, Italy know something about the Renaissance.”
