Hi, my name is Fabio Melani. I was born on 6 March 1993 in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. My dream is to one day win the Tour de France. My dad realised I had a natural talent for cycling when I was 6.

When I was 12, I was finally old enough to join a team. In my first season, I won 6 out of 9 races. Although my sprinting is mediocre, my climbing really stands out as a talent and that is what I have focused on in my 7 years of amateur and semi-pro cycling. When I was 17, I joined the best junior team in Argentina, where I won 14 out of 21 one day races and 3 KOM jerseys out of 4 stage races.

Early last year I went to a 2 week trial period along with 103 other young hopefuls at the only professional cycling team in South America, Colombia.

To my surprise (but not my dad's ), I was selected in the final group of 20 riders to stay on for another 2 days. It was then revealed to us that only one rider would be accepted as a neo-pro into the team.

Now the pressure was really on...


P.S. Feel free to post

On the first day of the 2 day extension period, we were split into 2 groups. Stage racers/climbers and sprinters, no doubt which one I was in. We started off with time trials, not exactly my strong point, but something I had to improve if I was going to achieve my goal of winning the Tour. However to even have a shot at that, I would have to convince the Colombia staff that I was the best rider here, and I didn't even think I was.

My dad says it's all about mentality, and to be the best you have to believe you are. I don't think like that. I wouldn't say I'm a pessimist, but I'm just not the kind of guy who thinks that if you believe in yourself, you can do anything. For example, you can't win the Tour if you can't ride a bike. I do think though that mentality plays a significant role in success. For example, if you think that you have no chance, then you lose your willpower, so you don't have a drive to win and use your full potential.

Anyway, back to the cycling. I'm not a very strong chrono rider, simply because I'm not used to riding on my own. Unlike a lot of riders, before I started riding in a peloton (about 50 riders in my case), I didn't learn by riding alone. I was always riding in the wheel of my dad (whose name is Carlos by the way), my brother Riccardo or both.

Still, the first of the 2 courses suited me well. 19.2km with a few climbs and downhills. I finished 5th out of the 12 of us in the stage racing/climbing group. Not bad, but with only one spot available and not knowing how the sprinters were faring, it simply wasn't good enough.


Me riding uphill on the first time trial course of the day.



Descending to the finish line on the same course.

Good luck, looks interesting so far. Hopefully Fabio can make the team

Welker: Thanks, glad to hopefully have you on board, next report coming soon.

After 3 hours of recovery, we had to do it all again. This time it wasn't as well-suited to me. 11km and pan-flat. I didn't do well at all, and could only manage 10th out of 12.

The next day, I knew I had to deliver. We had a 92km route up several mountains, and it was really tough. A total of 5km at 13%, and with that included 13.7km of 10%+. Two guys were out with 50km to go, while at that point I was feeling fine. On the last 10+ section, 13.4km from the end, I launched an attack. With no-one up the road, I had to solo to victory of a still very tough course. The "bunch" of 9 riders was forcing its pace, and it would go down to the wire.


My attack left a good field in it's wake.

The finish line was close, and as I looked back I saw no-one. I had no idea of how much time I had on them put now I was free to rider to victory!


And I took it! The cameraman was there to post a video on the team website. I was now dreaming of being a pro, but I had no idea about the news I was about to receive...

Great win, hopefully the news is good

7'49"!!! That's how much I won by! I was now so close to getting the contract I could feel it.

The presentation of the contract started off with congratulations to everyone for participating, and we were made aware that it would be between two guys. Me, and a sprinter-Rodrigo Montoya. He had won all the 4 stages that they were put through in the sprinters course, and apparently one of them was quite hilly. I was feeling pretty nervous now, as Colombia do have a shortage of good sprinters, but the climbing talent there is great.

Here's a transcript of the DS's speech:

We have two contenders for our neo-pro contact. They are, Fabio Melani and Rodrigo Montoya. Fabio has shown us his amazing climbing talent byt winning by almost 8 minutes on today's ultimate climbers test. Rodrigo is a true fast man, he won all 4 of our sprinters' stages, including one made for the puncher. As you all know, we can only accept one of these boys into the team. And our decision has been made. Welcome to the team...FABIO MELANI!

The best moment of my life for sure! I can't believe that I will get to work with guys like Fabio Duarte, John Darwin Atapuma, Leonardo Duque and more! I'll see you soon, with reports from the season. Until then,
ADIOS

Yay Fabio

Great star for your history...

Why didn't you start in a continental team like San Luis or Buenos Aires Provincia?

Anyway, great to see a story like this, a little strange to beat colombians in their field and speciality...

Cheers!

Welker: Good to see Fabio has his first fan!

Kadtagenero: If those teams were in my db I would've. I'm using Jesleyh's realname db. Just for future reference, in what db would I find these teams?

Meeting The Team

When I finally got to acquaint myself with my new teammates, I found that they were all great guys and I've already made a few friends. I'd say that my best friends on the team are J.D. Atapuma and M. Corti. But everyone on the team, including the staff is great. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to train with the team yet until January. Until then,
ADIOS

Training Camp

On the 6th of January 2013, we landed at Sydney International Airport (that's in Australia if you didn't know ) after 18 and-a-half hours in a plane from Bogota, Colombia. All 19 riders were on the flight and I was given the pleasure of sitting next to rising star Esteban Chavez. After spending that long with someone, they're either your friend, or you want to kill them. Fortunately for both of us in this case it was the former.

The Hotel

Wow... That was my reaction when I saw my room. It was only a 3 day training camp but this was luxury. My roommates were Atapuma and Juan Pablo Suarez. John had the bed nearest to the sea, I was next to him and Juan's bed is out of the frame.

The first day of the training camp was spent riding around the suburbs of Sydney at an easy pace. Unfortunately we don't have the biggest fan-base in Australia, but there were some fans who recognized the faces of Duarte and Duque.

On the morning of day 2, we found a nice hilly route and decided to test ourselves there. It wasn't a deadly pace but I was quickly getting used to having to put in much more energy to stay ahead. Let me just take this opportunity to apologize for the lack of pictures, but we weren't allowed to take them because the DS didn't want any media attention.

In the afternoon I met with the DS to discuss my schedule for the first part of the season. I'll post that later though.

On day 3 we kind of did the same thing as in the trial, we were split into groups of climbers, sprinters, and domestiques. In those were several sub-groups. I was in a group of 4 along with Atapuma, Chavez and Duarte

Yay a story. I hope this goes well for you, and nicely done in the Columbia try out, 8 minutes is quite a margin, if I was Colombia manager I'd take both!

Schedule

So, as I said I met with the DS on day 2 of the training camp to discuss my schedule for the season. Here it is, along with my comments.

Tour de San Luis: 21/01-27/01
I can't believe I didn't think of this! The first race of the season is in my own backyard! I'm so happy to be able to start my career in San Luis!

Giro di Laigueglia: 16/02
A nice hilly route that suites me well, hopefully I'll be able to support the team well.

Coppa di Camaiore: 28/02
A nice hilly circuit where I believe I can make a mark.

Strade Bianche: 2/03
My Italian season continues with this prestigious race. Hopefully I can help the team by protecting or attacking.

GP de Cholet: 17/03
This race is much harder than it looks. Hopefully I can do well here.

Criterium International: 22/03-24/03
One flat stage, one time trial, and one extremely hard mountain stage. The last stage will be extremely tough.

GP del Navarra: 30/03
A tough race where I can definitely help the team to round off my busy month of March

GP Primavera: 7/04
Back to Italy where we'll face a tough circuit 3 times round to decide the winner.

Giro del Trentino: 15/04-19/04
5 very hard stages in Italy, our main goal for the season, so expect to see a class lineup.

Tour of Turkey: 21/04-28/04
My first race in Asia, it should be an interesting experience. I don't know why this is part of my schedule, as it's definitely mostly a sprinters' race.

Vuelta a la Communidad de Madrid: 4/05
An extremely tough classic in the capital of Spain, it should be tough for all the riders.

Tour of California: 12/05-19/05
A very tough race going on during the Giro. There's usually a very high-class field at this race, so it could be tough to fashion a result.

Unfortunately the sponsors weren't in the mood for leniency. However the sprinter is on a special program with the team and if he continues his form he might join the team next season.

USA

Next up for the team was a trip to the United States. We were split into 5 teams of 3 and a team of 4 to compete in a sort of stage race. 3 sprint stages, 1 time trial and 5 mountain stages. I was put with Chavez and Avila. Chavez came 2nd in the GC, with Duarte taking the win by 39". Atapuma was 3rd, 1'11" behind Duarte. Avila won stage 2, while getting 2nd to Duque on all the other sprinting stages. I got 9th in the GC, 9'53" behind Duarte.

While we were in America, the season started off in the traditional way, with the Australian National Championships. Quite surprisingly, in a double for Orica-GreenEDGE, veteran Stuart O'Grady took the win ahead of youngster Cameron Meyer and Sky's Richie Porte.

Schedule looks good for the youngster, will he get any opportunities to lead? Maybe in the Tour of Turkey

It will all depend on his form, but the Tour of Turkey is definitely a possibility.

Fabio has got a good looking schedule

TOUR DE SAN LUIS-STAGE 1

Not really much to say about the profile, we'll be sprinting for Leonardo Duque. The bookies have said that he can't be underestimated, but we think that he can pull off a win with a proper train.


Well, it Le Tour. Not in France but if anywhere else I'm glad it's in my home country of Argentina. Wow is all I can say, my first ever pro race, and I was ready!


I really wanted to get in the breakaway, but the DS didn't want to take any risks, so it was Marentes who was given the nod. He got away 2nd time round along with A. Honkisz (CCC) and Julian Vermote (OPQS). Thanks to Marentes' work, the break got 8 minutes after 50km of riding.


My first real role for the team...water boy!


Marentes had a really bad sprint first time but 2nd time round he attacked with 4km until the sprint and held off the other 2 by about 10cm.


Now into the final kilometers, Duque was following Jarlinson Pantano, who took the wheel of BMC's Adam Blythe. Unfortunately he lost it before the sprint, so he started to sprint rather early, it was a great leadout but Pantano was dead too early.


To avoid disaster, Duque hopped onto the wheel of Wyss (BMC), and launched his sprint under the flamme rouge.


Vini-Fantini's Francesco Chicchi was the man of the day. He was easily the best sprinter today.


Duque took a respectable 7th, despite having a great day (+5), while I finished somewhere in the top third of the peloton.

My Views

Overall we did quite well, Marentes represented us in the breakaway and Duque put in a decent sprint. Pantano's leadout was impressive, but we might need a third guy to put us into a better position tomorrow. I learned how tough it is to keep up in a professional peloton, but hey, I finished pretty well, so I can't complain. Hopefully there's no 'risk' and the the DS can send me out in the break tomorrow. Until then...
ADIOS