Nibali: «No regrets about retiring but cycling continues to fascinate me»
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These reflections, in front of a warm audience of school pupils, Nibali makes al City Bicycle Museum of Alexandria where the Sicilian runner, in addition to allowing himself to meet with the boys enlisted as insistent reporters, left three magnificent bicycles on display, three Wiliers that Vincenzo used in the race, to which a splendid room in the Palazzo Monferrato Museum has been dedicated , the museum that traces the fascinating history of the bicycle in Italy.
A nonchalant Nibali, not at all sorry for his choice to retire. «Yes, guys, I have no regrets», says Vincenzo in front of a particularly curious little girl. «Sometimes, when I see the races on TV, I feel like being there, in the middle of the group, to see old friends and the new riders who arrive every year. Immediately afterwards, however, the desire passes me … I just need to think of all the 4 and 5 hour workouts a day that I had to do for 18 years to be competitive. A good life, of course, but with many sacrifices… I think I’ve had a good career. I’ve won important races, of course I miss a World Championship and an Olympics… But you can’t have everything… I have particular regrets for that crash at the Rio Games, lost to a tubular tire that went just off the road. Maybe I would have won, who knows… But sport also teaches these things: that every time, when you lose or fail to make it, you have to ask yourself where you went wrong in order not to make the same mistake again…. Being champions also means this….”
Another student, very concentrated, asks him: have you ever felt like giving up everything…? “Well, many times,” Nibali points out with a wink. «When your legs don’t turn, you always feel like stopping…. Then I looked at the faces of my sporting directors and sponsors and changed my mind… A bad moment was at the 2018 Tour de France when, due to an overly ardent fan, I fell on the Alpe d’Huez climb, breaking a vertebra. Apart from the pain, I was afraid of not being able to be as competitive again as before. But that’s how it is on that climb: you prefer to favor the spectacle given by the fans over the safety of the riders…».
We return again to the issue of safety. “I have run many risks in my career,” observes Nibali. “But in the end it always worked out for me. However, there are many dangers on the road. I think of Michele Scarponi and Davide Rebellin…. In Italy, unfortunately, we are far behind. In Europe, cycle paths are everywhere. And then there is greater attention, greater civic sense. In Italy we are far behind. I understand when some parents are afraid to send their children out on the road on a bicycle. I think it’s better to have them ride Bmxes in protected courses, where they can ride without external threats. Afterwards, if they want to go on, they can do it but competing in protected courses….».
The discussion returns to current cycling, to the fact that in Italy there is no new Nibali…. “Yes, at the moment I don’t see any on the horizon. Sometimes it happens, you have to be patient… I’m curious to see what he’ll do on Ganna… I saw him well at the Sanremo, I liked him. On the Poggio he was with the best, with Van Der Poel, who then made a crazy sprint and left them all behind in five hundred meters. But Ganna was there. In short, it seems to me that he is on the right track to do well not only in the time trial. Who I like crazy is Pogacar. He is an incredible runner who always gives battle. Sometimes even too much, but it’s a show to watch. At Sanremo it went badly for him, but he is always ahead. Maybe in the classics he should be more cautious, but he’s still very young. Experience will help. New champions every now and then I see myself in Remco Evenepoel. I am thrilled by his way of improvising attacks that throw his opponents off guard. I’m curious to see what more will come up…».
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