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Area: Road World Championship - el diablo ignored and hurt

El Diablo: "Ignored and hurt by Varese 2008"

Claudio Chiappucci with Lemond and Breuking on the podium of the 1990 Tour, when the Diablo came in second, after wearing the Yellow Jersey with a 10 minutes' lead over the American winner.

Chiappucci: "Not even a call from the organizers, and nevertheless people love me and I love my land.

I'm puzzled about the course, as there aren't real uphills. As to Ivan Basso, I look forward for him in Mendrisio in 2009"

VARESE

Claudio Chiappucci has never been half-hearted. Small bodied, great in any other respect. In his accomplisments: three podiums and two Dotted Jerseys in the Champs Elisées, the legendary gallop of the Sestrière. In the hard blows as well: a Tour lost by wasting a ten minutes' lead, a World Championship (Agrigento 94') given away to Leblanc who flew ahead on the last uphill.

In the hearth: that's why, even if he won less than he deserved, people liked him. He kept going with Bugno an exciting conflict and was adopted by the French, who nicknamed him Sciapusì. Little he won and much he lost, but always he beat anyone in terms of lead on the applauses. Where is El Diablo? Why nobody forces on the verge of the World Campionship right at his home? Answers him in person, Chiappucci.

SNUBBED

"Since the World Championship was assigned to Varese I've never been contacted by the organizers: ask them why, I'd like to know as well. I made up my mind as to this, maliciously if you want: perhaps the division was already done and for me there weren't even the scraps left.

Nevertheless I've been a racer who was proud if his Varese's roots, I think I did quite something for cycling, and during my career I won a Tre Valli Varesine as well. Anyway, I didn't expect nothing in particular: it has never been easy for me to be the "prophet in my country".

LOVED

"I spend a lot of time going round Italy: I do training with cycling amateurs, take part in races, "pedalate" and assorted events, I got invited to sporting events, openings, television broadcasts. I'd sure be willing to contribute to the most important race landing here in my land: this "forgettingness" saddens me.

The only "parallel" event I take part into is Miss World Championship, but it has nothing to do with cycling actually done on pedals. I'm not going to knock on any doors, but if organizers would finally call, I'd enthousiastically join in".

COURSE

"The Varese 2008 course rather puzzles me. Personallly, I'd prefer other courses, other uphills: come to think to the Velate climbing, if one wanted to remain within the city area.

To sum it up, it could have been worked out better. It is a course of medium difficulty, going to become hard provided the competitors would pull, otherwise it won't provide any selection. How I would interpret it? Attacking, obviously: the World Championship must be tough and selective, because only this way the best will stand out. Similarities with Agrigento '94? Don't be absurd: the final climb there was a seriuos one, with an average of 10% with a temperature around 40 degrees centigrade".

SILVER

"That day in Sicily I was pretty well: I lost the championship because when it came to te point the team support lacked. We made tactical mistakes: I found myself with Ghiotto alone on the final lap, at that very moment Leblanc rushed away and there weren't any means to neutralize him.

A huge disappointment: I would do anything to wear the Rainbow Jersey in Italy. Just imagine the adrenaline I would have in me had I had that chance in my city".

BASSO

"Even if the disqualification would expire before, you cannot improvise a World Championship: Ivan is going to be bothered in his right for the forced absence, but hardly he would be a protagonist in Varese. A two-years stop is long: let's wait for him back and calmly assess if he'll be the same as before again.

The talent is above discussions: nevertheless he will have to find again the competitive climate, fit into a "right" team, be patient as to results. In a word, manage himself well: all eyes shall be on him, and it's easy to make mistakes when under pressure. As to the World Championship, I'm waiting for him at Mendrisio 2009: why souldn't he aim at it?".

YELLOW

"I came in second twice at the Tour, but I regret nothing. In 1990 Lemond took me 10 minutes: it is very little, actually, certainly not the eternity one is led to suppose, particularly if the one who is catching up has a very great team, and who is hunted - me - does not.

I was young and unexperienced, nobody expected me to be at that level: I was satisfied. Traces back to those days the best memory: the first Yellow Jersey, a goose pimples stuff. In 1992 I was more cunning, I gave my best and despite the markings amongst the favourite, I had the satsfaction of an unmatched escape: more than two hundred kilometres on the Alps alone up to the Sestrière. In those times, with competitors whose names were Indurain and Bugno, it was more difficult: today it happens only to competitors out of the placings".

PEOPLE

"One's record counts, but people does not stop there: they liked me because I was genuine, generous, determined, even if at times I was labeled as tactically inconsiderate. Fans still love me, otherwise I wouldn't be invited everywhere still today.

Heirs? I like Riccò, he's spontaneousha just like me in talking and in racing. I know that many find him unpleasan: but that's the uncomfortable destiny of those who break the schemes to remain themselves".

A HERO ON THE ROADS OF ITALY AND FRANCE

Three podiums at the Tour and at the Giro

(s.a.) Claudio Chiappucci was born in Uboldo on 28 February 1963. A professional racer from 1985 to 1998, he has been a first rak protagonist on the world cycling scene. Particularly in the great stage races: three podiums at the Tour de France (two second place and a third place between 1990 and 1992), eight days in Yellow Jersey in 1990, two Dotted Jerseys (1991 and 1992), and three stages (Val Louron '91, Sestriere '92, Pau '93); at the Giro d'Italia three podiums (two second place and a third place between 1991 and 1993), two Best Climber Jerseys ('92 and '93) and a stage (Corsara 1993).

And then a Sanremo and a Tre Valli

He was successfull in in-line races as well: he won the Sanremo 1991, the Classic San Sebastian in 1993 and the Tre Valli Varesine in '94. In the national team he won a Silver Medal at the Agrigento World Championship in 1994. And then a wealth of placings, to underline his extraordinary fighting attitude.

From: La Provincia - Varese 18 April 2008

Stefano Affolti

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