The year was 2014 and what matters most was Vincenzo Nibali, the latest interpreter of an Italian cycling that seems to have suddenly become numb, after years of luminescence and splendor.
It was July 28th when the Shark of the Strait climbed in the yellow jersey on the podium of the Champs Elysees to show himself and speak to the world. Unforgettable days, that the Sicilian champion remembers with childlike modesty.
“It was really nice, that was clearly the high point of my career: maybe I was ready to win, a little less ready to bear all the media attention that was unleashed after a success of that magnitude”, he tells us on the eve of the Tour starting from Italy, for the first time in its more than one hundred-year history (arrival in Nice, with a time trial, on July 21, ed.).
Would you have ever imagined seeing the Tour starting from our beautiful country?
«Honestly, no, but we have history and tradition and it is right that the greatest race in the world pays homage to our country: from Bottecchia to Bartali, from Coppi to Nencini, from Gimondi to Pantani».
They will honor her too.
«A little too, yes».
However, she is the testimonial of the Giro d’Italia
«It’s a great race, I loved it beyond measure. The tour? It’s very important, but I’ve always preferred our running: perhaps because running on my home roads has always exhilarated me more. And then the Giro is the Giro: it’s the dream I cultivated as a boy. I dreamed of winning the Giro, not the Tour.”
What was the reality like?
«Better than dreams: I won two Giros, a Tour and a Vuelta, not bad».
Ten years have already passed since that fantastic flight over the roads of France: four stages won and an absolute domination.
“I set out knowing I could pull off the move.”
Do you like this Tour?
“Much. On paper it’s very tough and then in terms of participation it’s crazy. The start from Italy is demanding, very difficult, right from the start.”
If he were Pogacar, would he attack Vingegaard straight away?
“Absolutely yes. And knowing him he will do it.”
We start from Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, to reach Rimini, on the plain, but first we will have to overcome 3,600 meters of altitude difference on the hills of Romagna.
«It will be a beautiful stage (it also goes up to San Marino, which thus becomes the 13th nation touched by the French race in its history, ed.) and it has never happened that the opening stage of the Tour was already so tough».
The next day we leave from Marco Pantani’s house to arrive in Bologna.
«Another lively fraction with the double ascent to Colle di San Luca. Which is to say that this year the Grande Boucle doesn’t give a margin to anyone who doesn’t already reach the top.”
Then Piacenza-Turin, for sprinters.
«It’s right to give them some space too, in any case they will have eight stages at their disposal».
The fourth stage will start from Pinerolo to return to France and will do so by immediately proposing one of the giants of the Alps, the Galibier.
«A real stage, with Sestriere, Monginevro and Galibier before arriving in Valloire. Here the values on the field will immediately emerge».
Is the favorite Tadej Pogacar?
“Absolutely yes. Tadej didn’t surprise me with how he won the Giro, but with the gaps he managed to inflict.”
Could it be different at the Tour?
«He’s suffering a bit from the heat and his opponents are clearly more aggressive: it won’t be a walk in the park».
Will he be able to achieve the Giro-Tour combination that has been missing since Pantani 1998?
“Not only will he hit it, he may try for several years.”
But there is Vingegaard.
«We haven’t seen him since April 4, the day he fell and suffered a lot of fractures: it’s difficult to make an opinion».
E Roglic?
“He’s tough, he won’t give anything away, but I think Tadej is suffering too much on a psychological level.”
E Remco Evenepoel?
«He won the 2022 Vuelta, but in a grand tour he must demonstrate more continuity».
Listen Nibali, the Tour will celebrate Italy, will you not do anything for its tenth anniversary?
«I’m going to take a ride at the Tour: that’s more than enough».
