Interview with Ivan Gotti"Guti" in the Pink Jersey, the fable of a child who grew up with the dream of conquering life from a saddle. The metamorphosis from a child to a champion, finally became true six years after Franco Chioccioli, who happens to be his team director. Francesco Moser said about Gotti: "What was impressive was Gotti's coolness"."Did I always believe in myself? I though that it was about time and that I should be at full physical maturity - says Gotti -. Saeco gave me the opportunity to ride as team leader and has trusted in me". Q. What was the key moment? A. "The victory at Cervinia and the maglia rosa helped me see that I was going strong. That day was very exciting. That day changed my life. But it was the time trial at Cavalese where I won the Giro. All I could think was if Tonkov took back the Pink Jersey and if he beat me in the time trial: that victory gave me the conviction and weakened my adversary psychologically". Q. How did you beat Tonkov head to head for the Pink? A. "Pavel was very strong in the first week, but he has finished the Giro with his condition dropping, while mine was increasing. I have to thank my team, they fought it out with Mapei-GB. Q. How much of an influence was Pantani's forced retirement? A. "I was very displeased to see Marco fall, bad luck -says Ivan. It has been a sin not to have him as a rival. I would have been pleased to face him. Would he have gone well in the mountains? That I can't say, while we were amateur I always beat him. I remember at the Pordoi, at the Baby Giro in 1990, we were in an escape, I attacked and beat the stage". Q. Do you feel part of the circle of champions? A. If by champions you mean the capacity to win at a major stage race, that's my case. I feel I'm in the group with Riis, Berzin, Tonkov, Zulle...". Q. People thought that Tonkov would rule the Giro a "la Indurain", but you have beaten him. A. I have a lot of esteem for Pavel, I think that he is a champion and that he could win the Tour de France". Q. You have a dream which just came true, what dream is born? A. It is called the Tour de France. When I wore the Yellow Jersey, I felt like a star". Ivan Gotti is a new champion, with a unique style. He doesn't speak of intervals or watts of power, he says: "The Pink Jersey has given me the strength to overcome my limitations". Punchy managersYesterday at the end of the stage, Ivano Fanini, administrator of Team Amore & VitaForzarcore, had an encounter with Gianluigi Stanga, general manager of Team Polti, accusing him of contacting his rider Magnusson. Fanini punched Stanga in the face.Giro Summary - Stage (distance), Winner, Current GC17 May: Venice (km 128): Cipollini-Cipollini 18 May: Mestre-Cervia (211): Cipollini-Cipollini 19 May: S.Arcangelo-S.Marino (18): Tonkov-Tonkov 20 May: S.Marino-Arezzo (155): Cipollini-Tonkov 21 May: Arezzo-Terminillo (215): Tonkov-Tonkov 22 May: Rieti-Lanciano (210): Sgambelluri-Tonkov 23 May: Lanciano-Mondragone (210): Wust-Tonkov 24 May: Mondragone-Cava d.T (203): Manzoni-Tonkov 25 May: Cava-Castrovillari (232): Konyshev-Tonkov 26 May: Castrovillari-Taranto (189): Cipollini-Tonkov 27 May: Rest 28 May: Circuito Versilia (159): Missaglia-Tonkov 29 May: La Spezia-Varazze (212): Di Grande-Tonkov 30 May: Varazze-Cuneo (145): Magnusson-Tonkov 31 May: Racconigi-Breuil (232): Gotti-Gotti-Cipollini 1 June: Verres-Borgomanero (173): Baronti-Gotti-Cipollini 2 June: Borgomanero-Dalmine (158): Fontanelli-Gotti 3 June: Dalmine-Verona (200): Gualdi-Gotti 4 June: Baselga Pine'-Cavalese: Gontchar-Gotti 5 June: Predazzo-Falzes (222): Rubiera-Gotti 6 June: Brunico-Tonale (176): Gonzalez Pico-Gotti 7 June: Male'-Edolo (238): Tonkov-Gotti 8 June: Boario Terme-Milano (165): Cipollini-Gotti The Giro ClassificationsGeneral Classification (Pink Jersey): Ivan Gotti (Italia) Classification by Points: Mario Cipollini (Italia) [Also finished his first Major Tour. FRG] Mountain CLassification (Green Jersey): "Chepe" Gonzalez Pico (Colombia) Team Classification: Kelme Intermediate Sprint "Intergiro" (Blue Jersey): Dimitri Konyshev (Russia) Combativity Award: Dimitri Konyshev Italian and Colombian Renaissance at GiroItalia and Colombia, whose cyclists had not placed in the major stage races, had a renaissance with the win by Italian Ivan Gotti at the Giro d'Italia where Colombian "Chepe" Gonzalez won the Mountain competition. The little 30 year old Colombian, conquered last Friday the 20th stage over Paso del Tonale, at 1,883 meters of altitude where he arrived alone.While Gotti, on a mountainous course designed for Pantani adjusted well to it also, since the Italian is 1.75 meters tall and weighs 61 kg. Even though Gotti had placed fifth twice at the Tour de France (1995 & 1996), Gotti was considered a secondary favorite, more so under the shadow of the charismatic sprinter from his team, Mario Cipollini, who won his fifth stage on Sunday. Mortified because he was forgotten, Gotti becomes three weeks later the spokesman for Italian cycling, after becoming the first Italian in 6 years to win the Giro. As a sign of destiny, Gotti wins the Giro, which was last won by Italian Franco Chioccioli, his director, in 1991. For many years Gotti hid behind his leaders. In 1994, he stopped by order of his director to wait for Gianni Bugno in a mountain stage at the Giro. Two years later he received the same order to wait for his then leader, Russian Evgueni Berzin. In each ocassion, timid Gotti promised himself that he would get even by changing teams. More On ObreeObree quits due to lack of cash - GLASGOW, June 8 (AFP) - Scotland's Graeme Obree, the two times former world pursuit champion, has announced his retirement from cycling due to a lack of financial backing. The fomer hour record holder made his final official appearance on Saturday night at a low-key meeting Dundee where he finished second in a 15-strong field over 15km.Promised financial support has not been forthcoming and the man who first hit the headlines with his 'washing machine' bike has decided to call it a day and concentrate on his business ventures instead. "I've no regrets. I've won titles and broken world records," said Obree whose career was dogged by controversy from the outset. In the 1994 World Championships in Sicily he was told just before going on the track to defend his pursuit title that his revolutionary record breaking position had been declared illegal by the UCI. He refused to change, rode and won his heat only to be disqualified, but came back to win the following year with his new handle bars and his new "superman" position. Last year at the Manchester world championships Obree's cycling style proved a winning record-breaker in both the individual and team pusuit events. Obree himself was missing, still suffering the after-effects of the viral infection which ruined his Olympics in Atlanta. The innovative Scot finally decided to call it a day when money he had been expecting from the Sports Council failed to appear. |