What is your view on the tributes to the Italian champions at the start of the Tour and in particular Marco Pantani? What image do you have of him?
We arrive in Rimini tomorrow (this Saturday), really at home. There is the sulphurous side that surrounds him, which is part of his history, but I also remember the style he had in the mountains, the attacks with his hands down the handlebars that I sometimes take inspiration from without wanting to. I was young when he was at work, I was five years old in 1998 (during his success on the Tour), but he is one of the important names in cycling… Italy is a land of cycling, we felt it on Thursday during the presentation of the teams. On the first three stages, knowing a little about the love of the Italians for cycling, I think it will be a great party, there will be a great atmosphere.
