He dedicates it to the sixteen year old who was hit and killed while training on a bike. Then the thought for his wife Anna, pregnant with the second child
SESTOLA. He arrives, sees his sponsor Valentino Sciotti who tells him he is in the pink jersey and practically starts to cry. First dedication: «To me and my wife Anna (expecting the second baby ed). First tears. Podium. More tears. Process to the stage. Mashed potato. Skype connection with the press room, due to viruses and off with a crossfire.
Ale, what’s on your mind?
“I’m confused, maybe I’ll figure it out when I go back to the hotel and be alone with my shirt. Attack since I run, I have very low percentage of success, but I always try. Here this is the reward for my tenacity, an award that I began to dream of since I was little ».
For years you have been running with the bracelet for Giulio Regeni.
“Because that boy and his family have been waiting for justice for five years.”
You expose yourself to civil issues, you are one of the few sportsmen to do so. Aren’t you afraid of being exploited?
“No, because I am a husband, a father and a citizen before a runner and I fight, for what little I can do, on issues that cannot have a political color”.
At the Tour of the Alps you tried to dedicate a company to Silvia Piccini, the young cyclist invested in Fagagna …
«Yes, and when I return to Friuli I will bring something of this Giro to his parents. A small thing, but I will go to see them trying to be close to them. Silvia was the latest victim on the street, a massacre that, I fear, will not soon end because people too often don’t know how to behave on the streets. We must fight for security to increase ».
You always attack, why?
“I don’t know how to run differently, that’s how I interpret the job, I’ve never regretted it and my coaches from the youth teams to Bujese have always encouraged me to do so”.
There was another Friulian on the run, Venchiarutti ex Team Friuli like you.
«And there are also Fabbro, Aleotti, here at the Giro. I am happy to have contributed to sowing well and that the work of Roberto Bressan, Renzo Boscolo, Andrea Fusaz, highly trained technicians and the others of the team is now being recognized by everyone ».
When did you start dreaming of the pink jersey?
“From the time trial on Saturday the thought was buzzing in my head, I went fast, the seconds behind Ganna were only 33”. I had gone on the run … Only it was an endless battle: cold, rain, chases, fatigue. They always taught me not to give up in Buja, I’m from Friuli and I made a dream come true ».
On social networks there is a plebiscite for you: a well-deserved shirt …
«Thanks to everyone, come on Friuli, now I have to fight to keep it».
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