Young riders rise through the ranks with such promise. We all know the story; the rider who borrows a bicycle and enters a local race and wins. He decides he might be good at going batshit fast on a bike. Mom and Dad buy him a klunker for his birthday and he takes out a license. He starts winning most races he enters locally and rises to the regional level, then the national.
He has learned to deal with pain in a way most people could never imagine, and has come to understand that this – not his ability to smoothly turn the pedals – is his true talent in Cycling. To reach the next level, it’s time for sacrifice. He first stops eating cakes, then stops eating most things as he comes to the conclusion that every Cyclist comes to at one point or another: being heavy makes this sport even harder than it already is.
Then it’s off to the international level where he gains the attention of a Pro team and lands a contract. He takes well to Pro life and rises through the demanding ranks quite quickly. At a young age, he learns to look into the cold, deadly eyes of Bernard Hinault and stare back. He learns to hold the wheel of the most ruthless competitors in the world; he learns to drop them. He suffers like he’s never suffered before and thrives on it.
Then, in a flash, he finds himself on the world stage, in the limelight of one of the biggest races in the world. The public adores him for it. Then they predict his future success, and as quickly as it came, his greatness is crushed under the weight of expectation and he disappears first into the bunch and then into retirement.
Such was the case for poor Franco Chioccioli, cursed the moment his adoring fans named him Coppino, Little Coppi, after winning the 1991 Giro d’Italia.
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That is a great photo.
Better that reality than a drug-fueled Flandisy.
Kinda like Axel M, no?
@co-mo he was actually never touted as the next Merckx. He chose that life willingly, which is one thing I really admire about him, that he knew the pressure coming in and that he'd never meet that expectation. But he wanted to be a cyclist for the love of it. Respect.
Franco, otithe other hand, was a great rider with a magnificent stroke who happened to look like Coppi. Fucked.
Ricco being touted the next Pantani.
Any manner if Belgians being called the next Merckx.
Ullrich the next great GT winner of his generation. That sort of thing.
Nice article Frank. The photo is stunning, good find. I love the glint of the Rolls saddle in the gloom, and the sign on the right, in case the riders hadn't figured it out, that this is teeth clenching steep.
Excellent photo frank. While certainly not a Coppi expert, he does look like him from behind. Long, skinny and a little awkward looking.
It doesn't seem to matter which sport, there is always someone or something (thinking of horses here) being touted as the next ....... Why do people do that?
Aha...you beat me to it @Frank! I read the Rouleur article last night about the Giro and he was mentioned in this context. I was going to look him up because I am not familiar with him. Perfect Timing!
Sagan
@il ciclista medio
We do that because there is no more powerful a communication device than the telling of stories. Heroes and villains, winners and losers, these are the characters that represent the forces of good and evil - the oldest stories that we know. Hopes and expectations. Disappointment and redemption. Comedy and tragedy. Life and death.
@The Grande Fondue Andy Schleck.