The duel between Gotti and Tonkov finds its natural scenery along the climb of the Tour of Italy for two consecutive editions and ignites the fans giving them unforgettable experiences: in 1996 Pavel the best, it's up to Ivan in 1997 with his rival to the place of honor.
The fight between the two lights as soon as the road climbs on switchbacks harder. The Bergamo, San Pellegrino, Felice Gimondi heir, and Russian very "Italian" in Izhevsk: climbers who could give shivering in the series, tirelessly and with their companies have revived the great deeds of the past.
the first clash, from Olympia to the APR
Their first major clash could not be better baptism of the 79th Tour of Italy, the 1996, running from Athens to celebrate the centenary of the myth of Olympia.
After three stages in Greece, the race continues without changes until the 13th fraction, the Loanhead-Prato Nevoso. The geography of the stage, many are the peaks, it seems crazy the electrocardiogram of typhoid and expectations that already surround the duel at the top: Tonkov against Gotti. When the road climbs, timely shooting attack "Pauline" (as they call it his fans, italianized name). And the same point following the responses of Ivan the Terrible.
lost ground because of the drilling occorsagli about thirty miles from the finish line in Piedmont, Russian snaps under the banner of 3 km. At that point who wants to win the Tour can not hide: the finish of Prato Nevoso seems made to shake the standings. All
expect attacks, not to do it in a way so monstrous: Pavel opponents requires an unsustainable rate. Cenghialta comeback momentum, and Buenahora Laukka and went on to win in front of Ugrumov and Zaina. Gotti try to respond to deadly accelerations but feeling the pinch of loose ends and 36 ". Tonkov is in pink. Ugrumov is second to 20 "Gotti and fifth at 1'04". At the first favorable opportunity Pavel unforgiving bite the road and gives the tour its ease of pedaling. Impressive show of strength by the leader of team Panaria: to climb to Prato Nevoso, has long pushed the 41x19, the 39x17 Gotti.
The next race is planning a new encroachment, this time in France. The goal of Briançon nothing will change in the overall standings, but for most of the day will be the name of Ivan Gotti to echo part of the Alps from a distance, perhaps too much for one hundred kilometers from the arrival is to take a risk, and often pay dearly . Gotti earns 2 'on the leading group, as virtually the pink jersey, but is not collaboration. More than a targeted attack, proves a tactical own goal. The other fugitives - Rodríguez, Massi and Belli (fellow Tonkov) - are at the wheel without ever giving the gearbox. So the four are shot sull'Izoard. Not everything, however, is futile. Tonkov was shaking and had to spend a lot of energy to keep up with rivals.
But the great day of the tour is yet to come: 20th stage, Zaina triumphs over Pordoi, after Gotti's, the only one capable of withstanding the Brescia. Gotti part of the Marmolada and leaves behind Tonkov, hunted by the English Olano (also fighting for the pink jersey). Ivan is not satisfied and stretched on the Pordoi which also leaves the handful of the best and the central place of honor behind the wild Zaina. It is a great undertaking: the goal is Tonkov fifth at 1'05 "and lose the pink jersey for only 6 cents. The new leader of the championship and Olano, Gotti recovers from 4'09 "to 3'43" and start to dream: the next stop is the Mortirolo, and on that climb, nothing is impossible. Saturday, June 8, 1996
Gotti takes his first win as a professional. A success that, after five years of operation, launch the Olympus of Bergamo great, because who wins a Tappone as Cavalese-Aprica can only be a champion. The only drawback of the Gotti is that the victory will be the definitive statement of Tonkov, which in one stage by the end of the Giro again dominates the list with 2'43 "on Zaina, second. Gotti "paves" the Mortirolo and Pordoi, lining up the best. Except Tonkov, taking advantage of his rival for the attack to remove Olano, after just one day, the pink jersey. The arrival of Gotti in solitary Tonkov seen in the background, trailing by only 3 "cheer. A 1 'follows Ugrumov. Zaina you drag a Olano to pieces, the two arrive at 2'52 ". The battle goes to dell'Aprica Gotti, the war in the Giro Tonkov. But the challenge between the two will not stop there.
revenge, terrible revenge
For Gotti is charged with the appointment of the Giro 1997. Same mountain scenery, the same tactic: to impose a rhythm "impossible." For ten days
Tonkov as pink yarn. Ivan is third at 1'07 ". The road for the 13th stage, which leads to Cervinia, Gotti decided to attack and is 4 km from the vacuum. Under the Matterhorn from Bergamo gets there alone: \u200b\u200bMiceli appears after 39 ", Garzelli limps to 1'20" to 1'46 Gonzales. " Tonkov, more staccato, says goodbye to mesh. The new classification in pink see Gotti and Tonkov to 51 seconds. "
At that point, the purpose of revenge on the rest of the Russian trial of Cavalese in the program 18th stage. But the answer is to be champions of Gotti. Along the 40 km against the clock, limit the damage Ivan: Tonkov gnawing at only 14, and begins to lose confidence if not conviction.
The next day, June 5, Gotti complete the work. The Predazzo-Falzes Ivan devotes between large and close to the final goal: to bring the jersey to Milan. The Rubiera won the stage, but the duel Gotti-Tonkov to electrify the race. Emotions and shots are not counted. To complicate matters, the Russian does it take a fall, but never against quell'Ivan so terrible there would still be nothing to do. A Falzes, Gotti strengthens its domain: Tonkov is now 1'32 ". Missing three stages, but the gap between the two will not change over to Milan.
Before handing the scepter of the Russian attempt to surprise Gotti three times on the Passo del Tonale, replicating - in vain - at the finish line Edolo the next day. Tonkov
the penultimate stage takes the satisfaction of batttere the pink jersey in the peloton. It looks like the remake of a duel in 1996, this time with roles reversed: in Tonkov stage, Tour of Gotti. The challenge ends in a draw. The following year Tonkov surrender to Pantani stronger than ever: the one who won the Giro and the Tour in the same season
GOTTY STORY
Ivan Gotti was born in San Pellegrino Terme, March 28, 1969. Earth samples of the Upper Bergamo, because there, 6 km from home Gotti, a Sedrina, was born Felice Gimondi and always there in the area, 4 km from San Pellegrino, is Zogno, the village that gave birth to Antonio Pesenti, winner of the Giro d ' Italy in 1932.
career starts among the Rookies Ivan, a category that competes with his first bike, a gift from Pope John. Minute, very thin and frail in appearance, "Gottini" is brought to light when the road starts to climb.
Towards the age of 18, leaves the foot race and football to devote himself entirely to cycling. And along the usual route, from San Pellegrino in Bergamo, meet the riders and Vanotti Corti, his future spiritual leaders.
introverted character, of an apparent seriousness often mistaken for shyness, Gotti will convince us even more skeptical because of the ease of riding, especially uphill, and resilience, qualities ideal for breaking through in big stage races. And what they do, at age 21, the amateur most sought by professionals.
In 1991, it engages one of the greatest team in the Italian, the Gatorade-Chateau d'Ax captain Gianni Bugno. The sports director is Gianluigi Stanga, who held him for four seasons with Gotti, the last Team Polti. The first
from pro 'is marked by the difficult adjustment to the change of category, fee required for a natural talent like Ivan, one of the most anticipated entrants to the Tour of Italy and shoulder designated leader Bugno. The troubled start the season, including son of some illness, led him not to appear at the start of the Giro. The date is postponed by one year.
In 1992, his first Tour of Italy achieved a promising 23 th place but in the rest of the season, as the following year, does not go beyond some decent placings. In 1994, with the shirt of the Polti, is 16th in the Giro.
In 1995 changes to the Gewiss ds Emanuele Bombini and reveals a sort of metamorphosis technical athletics. Gotti works hard to increase muscle mass: Ivan better in tests and uphill time trial is always strong. The hard work of power from fruit. His participation in the Giro jumps at the last minute because of an influence, but Gotti is the way to the Tour de France, where even wearing the yellow.
In the top of the overall ranking comes thanks to the victory in the team time trial and the fall of Jalabert, a leader for two days, the stage the next day, arriving in a sprint finish at Le Havre, won by Cipollini. The Bergamo wears it only for two days, but meanwhile you take away the satisfaction of being the 22nd Italian to command, albeit briefly, the "Grande Boucle".
dream lasts up to Dunkirk, because the next day, in Charleroi, where German Zabel wins sprint finish for a tax decision Ivan the jury must give the jersey to teammate Riis. But in the time trial in Seraing, the test less suitable for a climber, Gotti is exceeded. On the eve of the great mountains, is the best of Italian at the finish line (11 ° 4'04 "by Indurain) and ranking (eighth). Thirty years after the triumph of Gimondi, cycling back to our national dream to establish itself in the Tour Luck, however, does not side with Ivan. The day of the
Pantani's Alpe d'Huez, Gotti goes on the run, fight and lose with the Pirate, fell near the finish line but it defends itself with pride and made up to 1 "Rominger fourth behind Indurain, Zülle and Riis. Went to France to help Berzin and Riis, Gotti found himself the protagonist.
The 5th place in the Tour earned him the trust of coach Alfredo Martini, who convenes the World Championships in Colombia. So many cocks in the henhouse Blue: Bugno, Chiappucci, Pantani and Fondriest. Ivan you are settling in well but share in the race, won by compatriot Indurain and Olano front of Pantani, succumbs to fatigue and stress accumulated in a long and exhausting. His withdrawal on the hard circuit Duitama, it seems more than justified.
The second is for the court to Bombini Gotti a good year to study at the table: the Russian Eugeni Berzin will be the first point in the Giro, Ivan will have degrees in the Tour
In the race, however, the plans are disrupted. A Vars, try the company with Gotti a flight of 90 km. Uphill challenge Tonkov and Ugrumov, which aim to win the Giro. It is also virtual pink jersey in the standings and his 5th place provisional (and then final) forces the team to review roles and strategies.
At the Tour, the captain comes to the best of Gotti 5th place the year before. Pay, however, the effort of the Giro, and more are committing a technical mess: mechanic does raise a few millimeters from the saddle, but it changes the position on the bike and this causes an annoying pain in the knee. The population of Lac Madine cold and rain do the rest: Ivan withdraws before the coveted mountain stages.
In 1997, go to the Saeco squad with a budget of 8 billion pounds, for be the only leader in a formation with ambitions to stage races. And win the Tour. The trio sits in flagship, short-Salutini Chioccioli, the tailor sews a perfect pink: All soldiers rated the pair of aces, Cipollini and Gotti. One tip to fly, the other of the standings. And so Ivan realizes the dream of a life by acting as a second striker. The change in the 14th race
village, 154 km from Racconigi Tappone of Breuil-Cervinia. Ivan extends 4 km from the summit, to be covered on the group of head: Ivan wins partial victory parades and the pink jersey to Tonkov. The advocates of Cavalese in the time trial, then in the historic step towards Falzes, where the duel with Tonkov peaked followed the prompt reply on the ramps of the Mortirolo.
Eventually, nine days in discrete pink and happiness on the podium in Milan: Franco Chioccioli six years later, on the highest step back to an Italian, the wren of San Pellegrino.
At the Tour, Gotti arrives galvanized happened in pink. But the dream of the doublet is broken already at the seventh stage, from a fall.
A year later, in 1998, is to forget. Ivan struggle all season with the physical problems and when everything is compromised (such as the climate in the team) we discover the cause: parasitic infection, possibly caused by food poisoning.
In 1999, returned to the Polti team, Gotti presents itself at the start of a tour designed to Pantani. Ivan fight for 2nd place, apparently because the Pirate, is indeed, another planet. The Gran Sasso Gotti is the only one to resist it, but get exhausted.
Between the two there is also some skirmish, because Mark's on the run and instead calls for the exchange Ivan, with his legs hard, just can not do it. The next day, Gotti recovers and is set in the time trial of Ancona. The population Bra
that leads to Borgo San Dalmazzo the leitmotif is the rivalry between Gotti and Pantani. Ivan alleges misconduct in the Quest for the final stage (a sudden deviation of the Marco hits but without consequences). The challenge continues on
Fauniera (1 'from the quagmire of delay), where Gotti is defended with honor. Does not respond to the rhythm Pantani's furious and goes on with its own pitch. Polished and brave down, recovers in the end. A Oropa, Pantani won a stage in solitude, as little more than 8 km from the finish, seems compromised by a mechanical accident. But up front, sporty, does not force Gotti: Pantani to win him over and goes to the phenomenon. The Pirate's solo continues over the mountains. A domain so embarrassing that, in Madonna di Campiglio, in the overall standings Gotti is the 3rd, before the sosrpresissima Savoldelli, but more than 6 'from the race leader.
already met to run for the seat of honor on the morning of June 5, when the Tour starts without Pantani (rate of hematocrit over the allowed limit), Ivan they will be fighting for the pink jersey. Savoldelli will refuse to wear it out of respect for the pirate, but soon to leave it to Gotti, who will pocket the second tour in three years.
is still the springboard Mortirolo: Gotti does not win the stage but jumps at the top the last day of competition. He wins the Tour and is a triumph that smacks of surrender, although this time around he did not breathe the same air of celebration in 1997. Ivan is overwhelmed by the whistles of those who do not understand that he, the deal-Pantani, is not to blame.
At the Tour, but retired and the rest of the season does not get major placements. The
2000, always Polti, is stingy with the results: Gotti finished the Tour in 19th place and his first Vuelta leave without glory. In 2001-2002
runs for the Alessio team and alongside promising young people get the 7th in the Tour of Italy. In 2002, it does not get significant results (in the Giro is 13 °) and end of the season, failing to find a suitable employment, he abandons the task. Today he resides in his hometown, where a trader of food products.
Tonkov STORY
Sergejewitsch Pavel Tonkov was born February 9, 1969 in Izhevsk, a town on the banks of the river Iz, in central-eastern European Russia, not far from the Ural mountains. Legend has it that the country is not marked on maps. Secret military made here the Kalashnikov. The first sport that
Pavel practice, eight years, is swimming: backstroke and freestyle. Cycling rooms run in May 1980, the team Impulse name due to the company that produces radio for the Red Army. His coach is Oleg Blinov. The first victory coming in June 1980, at the stage of Tchaikovsky and after seeing Sergei Nikolaevich Sukhoruchenkov graduate Olympic champion in Moscow 1980 Tonkov decide that their way will be in cycling.
In 1984, he entered the Olympic center in Samara, and three years ago after the Soviet national with which, in Bergamo, became Junior World Champion. Between 1989 and runs for a season in France, the Team Bonnat. In April 1992, passes pro-Baikal in Russia, Viktor Kapitonov, then won the week of Bergamo, he moved to an Italian team, Lampre-Colnago. Excellent
passista-climber, good and chrono-stage race specialist, focuses his most important victory in the Tour of Italy in 1996, then run that will see the second in 1997 and 1998. In 2000 he was third in the Vuelta. He retired in October 2005, at the end of the Giro di Lombardia. Daria
Married, two children, Nicolas (b. 1997) and Alexander (2002), has lived in Majadahonda, Spain, where he runs several businesses.
GOTTI VS Tonkov, the most beautiful pages
face clean and revealing ride a unique class, especially in height: these are characteristics shared by Gotti and Tonkov, stronger more agile than the time trial Bergamo. Ernesto Colnago, who sponsored the Soviet national and, after 1989, the Russian, it detects and Pavel Saronni decided in 1992 to hire him to direct the Lampre DS Pietro Algeri, who had seen Tonkov shine at his debut in Week Bergamo . That year
Indurain won his first Tour, beating Chiappucci and snails. The experts, however, immediately notice the little boy who takes tough uphill and against the pass the time. Came in seventh. The next year is even better, climbing to fifth place in overall and showing off the most difficult stage, with the arrival in Corvara. To prevail is Chiappucci, but Tonkov takes the wheels of the first and closes with the winner, Indurain in the pink jersey group.
A career long, 14-year pro with the Tour of Italy as its main objective, centered as the second Russian to impose the greatest Italian stage race after two seasons Eugeni Berzin, a year younger than him.
big fan of Indurain, Bugno, Chiappucci Chioccioli and the same, at the beginning Tonkov tries to steal some secrets before they assert themselves, after a gradual growth, the highest level. And particularly in the Giro, the main goal of the season team.
In 1997 one of his most credible opponent is Leblanc. A few days before the start of the Giro the French had been very strong in the Giro del Trentino. At the stage of Cervinia, especially Pavel controlled him, instead Gotti is part of the good escape and takes you right here. Pavel, however, is unfortunate. Because of a fall has to change bikes and shoes, thus losing valuable time. After the battleship
Mapei, Tonkov siv presents the Tour of '98 as one of the favorites, one step below Alex Zülle, but at the same level of Gotti and Pantani.
The Swiss formidable time trial, won the prologue in Nice and beat the direct competitors in uphill Lake Laceno. Then making sure the timing Trieste, a week after the conclusion, it seemed that no one could ever take away the pink jersey.
Instead, Pantani does break the bank. In step with the Marmolada and arrive in Selva di Val Gardena, Guerini only holds the rhythm of the Pirate. Tonkov Zülle and are in crisis and out of games overall.
Alpe di Pampeago Russian has a burst of pride, beat Mark and win the stage. There were still arriving in Monte Campione and the final time trial in Lugano: the games could be reopened. But against that Pantani there's nothing to do, he will win in Monte Campione and Pavel will only have an honorable surrender.
Afterwards, however, do not fight for more pink. Some of his exploits did not go unnoticed, like the lonely arrival in Passo Coe in 2002 or the Fund, in the Giro 2004. But these are isolated incidents, enterprises in a day. The best Tonkov had already written his finest pages. Those epic told against Gotti in the Giro, twice, and Pantani.
CHRISTIAN GIORDANO
ch.giord @ gmail.com
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