Redemption is complete for Michele Gazzoli. Just under two years ago the cyclist from Ospitaletto made up for it a questionable disqualification of 12 months for the use of a nasal spray which stopped his growth as a professional, on Saturday he will be the only Brescian at the start of the Tour de France which starts on Saturday, also in Italy.
His task
The twenty-five year old, former European road champion in the Junior category, is in fact among the starters of the Astana team directed by the doyen of sports directors, the other from Brescia Beppe Martinelli. Gazzoli will be in the service of Mark Cavendishthe eternal British sprinter who jointly holds the record for stage victories in the yellow race with the cannibal Eddie Merckx and is seeking, at the age of 39, the absolute record.
Alongside the British sprinter there will be his last man, the Dane Michael Morkov, the Dutch Cees Bol and Gazzoli together with the other Italian Davide Ballerini.
The debut
For the class of ’99 from Ospedale, the satisfaction is double. This is not only the first participation in the Tour de France, but also the first big tour of his career. And he will be able to do it while also enjoying the affection of the Italian fans, given that the first three stages arrive and depart from our country. Saturday from Florence to Rimini. Sunday from Cesenatico to Bologna, Monday from Piacenza to Turin before the Grand Boucle leaves Italy on Tuesday, with the fourth stage, already truly Alpine, from Pinerolo to Valloire.
Will be a nice test for Gazzoli, who returned after disqualification a year ago and achieved his first success as a professional at the Arctic Race in Norway in August. And so far in the season his best placing has been a sixth place in the first stage of the Dauphiné Criterium earlier this month, after the period of retreat in the mountains of Andalusia.
