The successful former Paduan passistone has been telling the Italians about the pink race for 14 editions: āWhat after Nibali? We have Ganna, then we focus on young people but above all we wait for them “
breaking latest news. He looked them in the eye, two meters from them, while they were fighting on the Blockhaus and before that on Etna. Just as it has been doing for 14 years on the Rai motorcycle. And the former passistone from Stranghella, low Paduan, Massimo Ghirotto, 60 – someone who helped win and also won, adored by coach Alfredo Martini and also by Adriano De Zan – helps us unravel the tangle of the fight for the pink jersey. More intricate than ever after the “crowded” of the Blockhaus.
Ghirotto, 14 years on the Rai motorcycle
Ghirotto, the favorites in three flashes after 9 stages?
Ā«Carapaz strong, but not very strong, still master of the steam with the Ineos. And then there are still Mortirolo and Fedaia, his land. Bardet sly, Landa well hoping that he does not have the usual dose of bad luck Ā».
Hindley?
“He simply has the strongest team.”
Should he bet on someone?
“Almeida. If they don’t take him off, he has the time trial in Verona to his advantage Ā».
Ghirotto, what is it like to tell the race from the bike?
“Wonderful, especially if you have raced, you identify with the effort they make.”
Massimo Ghirotto at the time of the Carrera
Are you a biker?
“Not at all. And I’m also afraid to ride a motorcycle. But I have an exceptional rider, Thierry Magnaldi, one who has done dozens of Dakar between cars and motorcycles. I rely on him Ā».
The best victory you have ever told?
Ā«No doubt Nibali’s triumph in Risoul when he overturned the 2016 Giro. I was there when Scarponi decided to wait for him and help him win. Unique emotions Ā».
And his best victory in the Giro?
“All. Three stages won, then two in the Tour and one in the Vuelta, a cherished World Championship, was in 1994 in Agrigento Ā».
The pink Lopez jersey in Montesilvano on the rest day
Idols?
Ā«Moser, and then I turned pro in his Inoxpram. My teachers, on the other hand, were Davide Boifafa, Felice Gimondi, for whom I worked for the mountain bike at Bianchi for twenty years, and Alfredo Martini Ā».
The spectacular arrival on the Blockhaus
It was at the Carrera in 1987, that of the Roche-Visentini war. Which side was he on?
Ā«Of what he won. Roche won the Giro and they gave me 15 million in prizes, not a few Ā».
Why is Italian cycling struggling?
“Cycles. There was Nibali, now we have Ganna. Let’s work on young people, above all let’s wait for them, a champion will come back Ā».
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