“I take the place of Gianni Bugno: I already have a bit of anxiety on my own, but that’s normal. “Talk Giada Borgato, which for Rai Sport will comment on the technical Giro d’Italia number 104, chosen by the “boss” Auro Bulbarelli and by the whole structure. Thirty-one years old, Paduan and Italian champion in 2012, Borgato is absolutely the first technique to explain to a rather conservative and therefore male-dominated public the sport that still sees Coppi and Bartali as a symbol.
“Certainly it is a new role – he tells Adnkronos – and I feel the responsibility of this thing and I will have to keep it under control. But in the group (with her the journalist Francesco Pancani and the writer Fabio Genovesi, ed) there is already a good climate and we are close “. More than a century has passed since Alfonsina Strada, the first woman to compete on the pedals with males with all the controversies of the time, participated in the Giro d’Italia: “Great woman, and great women those who fought the battle that brought us all to where we are, with the world that has changed. My experience is a crumb compared to theirs “, Borgato cuts short.
Will it be difficult for the public to digest a woman’s competence? “They will have to get used to it, and in any case the sport of cycling is that: to turn the legs and push on the pedals. Techniques and tactics are identical, even if the public environment is still sexist they will accept me and maybe I’ll change their mindsIn the meantime, he adds, a “nice Giro is looming, different from last year: fewer time trials, with more stretches of dirt road, the return to a historic stage on the Zoncolan and stages with really tough uphill finishes, such as Cortina and Alpe di Motta. Just the few time trial kilometers will be an important difference “.
For Borgato the favorite of this edition is Egan Bernal, “then with his back problems it will be all to be verified, but if he has decided to participate he knows he can do it. But there is a great package of athletes at the highest level, it will be a Giro that cannot be taken for granted”. Nibali’s recovery “is a great thing, we all know that he cares a lot, the Giro is the home race. But his first goal is the Olympics. As I know him he will have fun and entertain us, and he is a champion just for his decision to participate. He will not take risks or do crazy things, but knowing him I know he will go on the attack, he will be honored. But he will have to keep his eyes open, Tokyo is waiting for him. ”