We landed in Milan. It was the first time I was abroad. We met my dad’s friend. He took us to Bormio. It was a very long ride, but with every kilometer it was more enjoyable. I was in mountains in Poland, but Alps are twice or maybe even three times more beautiful. I couldn’t wait to get my bike and go for a ride, but there was a little problem. The rest of our things, including my bike, was in a truck, which had an accident and we lost them all. However, my dad said that he would earn more money in Italy, so he would buy me a new one next year. I told him, that I would like a road bike, like those people we saw.
I didn’t know why there were so many cyclist in that area and it was the first I heard about Passo dello Stelvio. Well, maybe I would hear about it earlier, if I would watch this year Giro more carefully. I set myself a goal, I wanted to climb on the Stelvio Pass on bike! I didn’t know anything about riding on high mountains, I only had small hills in forests, but they were nothing comparing to Stelvio. Meanwhile I was learning how to ski in winter, but I didn’t find it interesting. In the beginning of 2006 I finally got it, my first road bike! It was Specialized Allez Triple in red color. I couldn’t wait to ride on it, but I had to wait to the spring of 2006.
When the April came, I had time to ride about three or four days a week, because I was learning at home, mostly about computers. My dad worked as a computer programmer and I was amazed by his work and wanted to be like him, but a bit later, because my main goal was to become a cyclist. The first rides I did weren’t very long, about 12-13 kilometers. I was going uphill to Turri Piano and then back to Bormio. It was exhausting in the beginning, but I was doing my route at least three times a week all over again, until I felt, that I wasn’t even tired after this ride. In June 2006 I changed my training schedule a bit. From Tuesday to Thursday I did my usual route to Turri Piano and on Saturday I did a route to Grosio and back to Bormio. It was about 50 kilometers long and had few climbs on the way. I was getting better and better every week… TK
My training was getting more intensive every two weeks. In the middle of August, I decided to finally go into high mountains. I planned my first ride for 15th of August. I decided to go to Livigno and back to Bormio. The first climb I had to ride was Passo del Foscagno, which is 2291 meter over the sea level. It is 24 kilometers long with average of 4,7% and max 11%, so it was a very good test before my ride on Stelvio. I had problems with breathing, because of the altitude, so it made me a bit worried, as the Stelvio is almost 500 meters higher. Second climb was Passo d’Eira (2210m), but the difference in elevation is only 200 meters, so I didn’t have any problems with that. In Livigno I made a break to have a snack and went back to Bormio. Descent from Foscagno was also very challenging with three difficult hairpins, but I came home in one piece. I did the same ride three days later and met some local cyclists, which were mostly 40 and 50 years old. They wanted me to go for a ride someday.
On the 22nd of August, I decided to ride to the Stelvio Pass. When I set off the weather was fine, but after half an hour it started to rain. This made the whole ride much more difficult and after 15 kilometers I had to stop, it was just too hard. At the altitude of 2310 meters I went back home, but with even stronger motivation to get to the top of that pass. I set off again three days later and the weather was excellent this time. The sky was cloudless and the sun shone. It was a perfect day for a ride. I passed the place I turned back, but this time everything was fine. Then I saw signs saying how many turns are left. I started to have problems with breathing, with 9 turn to go, but I kept going. At 5 to go I felt like I could to this. When there were only three turns left, I saw how close it was, but my legs hurt so much, that I would normally stop, but not this time, no way! Two to go, I was afraid that I could pass out at this moment. One left, I didn’t feel the pain anymore, all I was thinking was the road in front of me! I saw sign “Passo dello Stelvio”, but I knew there were two more turns to the village and I made it! I was on the top of the Stelvio Pass! I was exhausted I sat on the road with bike lying next to me and couldn’t take a breath, but it was worth it. There were some other cyclists and when they saw me, they raised their thumbs up. All I had to do now, was to get back home. I drunk all the water I had and went down to Bormio… TK
In the beginning of 2007 I joined a bunch of cyclists I met during my ride to Livigno. Riding with them was much more entertaining and I could improve my skills faster. At first I had problems to keep up with them, but after few weeks, they couldn’t lose me even if we rode more than 100 kilometers. In July of 2007 I decided to go on lonely, over 100 kilometers ride. I set myself a route length of 130 kilometers. First I went to the Passo di Gavia, which is 26 kilometers from Bormio and the climb has an average of 5,6% with max 11%. Then I rode through Ponte di Legno, Edolo, Tirano and back to Bormio. I was amazed, that I hadn’t got bigger problems during the ride. This meant, that I’m getting better and better, so I started looking for a team I could join.
One day in August I went on a short ride and saw a young cyclist with a flat tire. He hadn’t got a spare inner tube, so I gave him mine. We talked for a while. He was two years older and he was going to join the U-23 team. We went on a ride together and he told about his successes as a sprinter on a road and on a track. He was very fast indeed, but I was better climber than he was. He asked me if I would join the team with him, because he needed someone, who could help him to maintain in the front on difficult climbs and also lead out in the end. I couldn’t say no! But first I had to pass a test, because no one knew me.
The next day I packed my things, took my bike and went on a 300 kilometer trip to the place I would be tested. The whole team was waiting for us and we all went on a training. They wanted to see if I could keep up with them even if the pace was very high. After few months of riding with cyclists in Bormio in much more demanding terrain, I had no problems with that. I even managed to break away from them for a few kilometers! The coaches were impressed and I met a manager. He offered me a contract for the next year and I said yes! TK
Contest nr.1
Who was the cyclist, that Tom has met?
The first person with correct answer will have a chance to influence the story and make a choice about the Tom's future! If you can't guess I will give you some hints
MrTeamSky: There is some time until Daily DB comes out and I don't have much to do at the moment and I'm happy that someone enjoys this story Edited by TomC on 18-09-2013 19:34
Man, was gonna say Viviana but someone already said it and thought you wouldn't be harsh enough to not accept even if he said too, he was first choice,
This happens to me every day in all things vaguely like this, I have such bad luck.
In 2008 I joined Marchiol U23 team with Viviani. My dad rent a flat in Conegliano, so I could live near the place, where the team was based. It was a tough season for me and didn’t have any good results. Maybe expect 11th place in Gran Premio della Rinascita and 14th in Trofeo Comune di Acquanegra sul Chiese, they were both won by Viviani, thanks to my help in the last kilometers. He by the way had an amazing season. Except for two wins I’ve already mentioned, he had six second places and two third. Of course he had some successes on the track too. I wanted to be better and be able to fight on the finish wish him, but he was much faster. I knew it had something to do with training on the track, but I didn’t have such an opportunity. It was going to change in 2009…
But let’s stay a while in 2008. I had some free weekends during the season, so I had a possibility to go back to Bormio and ride in the Alps. I had a chance to ride passes like Gavia, Foscagno, Livigno and once I went on a ride with local cyclists from Bormio to Montechiaro and back to Bormio. It wasn’t even 100 kilometers long, but we climbed up the Stelvio twice! I also had a training camp in mountains with my team. We went to the Dolomites and we had to cope with passes like Sella, Pordoi or Giau. It were very interesting two weeks, but I found out, that even if I wasn’t the best sprinter and I could do well in the mountains, I was still a better sprinter than a climber… TK
