Will be a sad day when Metinvest folds at the end of the season. The team has been on a great journey during the time I have been involved in the MG. Well done Avin on being a major MG character, and good luck in the future.
You will be a massive loss to the MG, and your story with the team has been huge. If I can do half of the achievements with my team then I will be happy.
Interactions with you, other than HQ posts, have been limited, but it has always been a pleasure
Seeing that Metinvest path to PT glory is valued by many, we have decided to issue few editions of "Metinvest legends" articles...short stories from the past, both far away and recent.
You can think about it as the short presentation of some of the most interesting/influental riders that wore the Metinvest shirt and helped us achieve the biggest dreams. Expect some 6-7 editions until the end of this season.
So lets start right now, in good old days of D2...
Metinvest legends #1 - Antonio Bucciero
Name: Antonio Bucciero Nickname:: Boo-Boo Country: Italy Years at the team: 2012 (D2) Metinvest - Slovnaft
In our first year in cycling world, we have stood in front of many important questions and decisions. One of them and maybe the most important one, was the question of who to contract as the riders. The main transfer season was closed and new D2 managers were only given the option to choose from pool of unsigned professionals.
We tried to stay in eastern Europe area for most of our new riders, but on the other hand, we felt like some foreign experince is needed and that was achieved by signing of Antonio Bucciero. Antonio was over 30 by that time and had various experience from several different cycling setups, mainly filling the role of road captain and cobbles/sprinting domestique. We saw him as ideal candidate for co-leading our young team.
It was not long, before he showed everybody his attacking spirit and tactical mind. He joined the dangerous late move in Dubai Grand Prix and even when it had not suceed, it was a good sign. Few weeks later he was top20 (6th in bunch sprint) at famous K-B-K, followed by one of his biggest feats in our colours, when he had won the group sprint in tough cobbled race Strade Appia Antica, unfortunately it was only 6th place behind the break.
Nice results, but the riders are remembered not for the 5th places, but for the wins and Antonio achieved our first major result in 3rd stage of 2012 edition of Tour de San Juan, tough stage race in Argentina. Her jumped into the mornings break, held on and finished the sprint in style.
It helped him move to 2nd in GC and even when he later lost high GC placing, he will be always rembered for first ever win for Metinvest colours!
After this major success, Antonio returned to attacking racing, joining several breaks in races like Delta Tour Zeeland or Ronde van Belgie. But it was next race, cobbled classic Dutch Food Valley Classic, where he became immortal part of our legacy. Metinvest controlled the whole race, especially Rudenko and Krivtsov took turns at the front and with some nearly 6kms to go, "Boo Boo" Bucciero put in a devastating attack...some riders reacted, but when he tried again with flamme rouge approaching, nobody followed and he triupmhed!
Later that year, he surprised many with 8th place in tough, partly gravel, mountain classic Klasika Sniezka or finished in top10 several times in stages of Tour de Maroc. He was not able to repeat his wins, but as was said, he will remain in memories of Metinvest fans forever, as one of the cornerstones of transition from passion cycling project to real cycling team.
Thanks Antonio!
Biggest results: 2012
K-B-K: 6th
Touir de San Juan- 3rd stage: 1st
Dutch Food Valley Classic: 1st
Klasika Sniezka: 8th
Somehow missed this announcement.
Sad to see you step down from the manager role mate! In just a few seasons you created one of the most recognizable teams in the game and their departure will definitely leave a hole. Hope you do indeed stick around the forums!