The cycling history of Vincenzo Nibali ended much better than expected
Nine years ago, the Tour of Italy had one of the best outstanding outcomes of Vincenzo Nibali.
Anyone who follows this bad notebook, knows that the Italian is one of the weaknesses, so let me be redico to say that There are stories that go far beyond trophies, and this is one of them.
Vincenzo Nibali was a kid who grew up in a Sicily that is not easy, who lived a hard childhood, without ornaments, where he was almost a feat. Luckily, he found his exit on a bicycle.
At 15 he won a race in Siena and made a decision that would change his life: not return home.
He went to Tuscany with the fixed idea of being a professional cyclist. He lived with other young people in the house of the sports director and studied in Empoli, although his were never the books.
Many tried, but only he kept pedaling until the end.
That stubbornness took him far. Very far. He won twice the Giro of Italy, the Tour de France and the Tour, something that only a few chosen have achieved.
All these triumphs have much of their seal, of that stubbornness.
But his career was not made only of victories. He also met the ugliest side of cycling: doping.
Lost races against rivals who later gave positiveand although he never made a scandal, he does not forget it. Even so, what hurt him most was living under suspicion.
We read that they watched him, they checked the car, his mobile … He even believes they entered his house looking for something he never existed. And he never existed because he never whistled.
Win the tour was the peak of his career … and, curiously, also his most difficult moment.
Eleven years ago and I remember it well: fame passed over him. Going to the street with her daughter was chaos, and with her wife they just wanted to recover some normality.
It took years to feel calm again, and admits that he just began to enjoy life really when he hung the bike.
There was also hard blows, like that fall in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, When he had gold almost in his hand. He risked a little more, he went to the ground and everything was over.
He doesn’t look for excuses. Assume the error and move on, as always.
For years he lived training in height, in the Teide, almost like a modern monk. Days and days of loneliness, companionship and sacrifice, shared with other cyclists who became brothers. It was there that the character that remained firm in each climb was forged.
Already retired, life has another rhythm.
He has met his land, this time as a touristrediscovering places such as Cephalú, Agrigento or the Forests of the Peloritani with their family. His daughter asked him about a museum and he, proud, told him about Antonello da Messina, a genius of art that, like him, was born on that island full of contrasts.
Today it is part of the great history of Italian cycling, along with mythical names such as Coppi, Bartali or Gimondi.
Beyond the titles, His legacy is that of someone who always foughtif he did not whistle, it will not be here where he doubted, that he resisted doubts, falls and suspicions … while looking forward, with his back straight and head high.
