Even though the constant and massive presence of TV cameras and radio transmitters has swept away most of the mysteries, tactical fantasies, legends and lies, the sport of cycling always keeps telling the “tales of corsairs and ambushes”, as journalist Bruno Raschi used to write on the Gazzetta dello Sport so many years ago.

No other sport has such grandiose challenge as the man confronts with Nature , adversaries, tacticts, bluffs, inspired traps, under rain and snow as well as in the stifling heat.

From Paris-Nice, Gilberto Simoni sends a clear message to his teammate Damiano Cunego, devouring the climb to Mont Faron at 1878 m/h, while the Tirreno-Adriatico puts forth the several thunderous victories of Oscar Freire, electing him the logical favorite for Milan-Sanremo the next weekend.

For a while now at races, after dinner, “strategists” and suiveurs try to build up tactics and more or less probable alliances, which would eventually reveal themselves as vacuous “chatter workout” to the harsh, unpredictable and unmerciful confrontation with La Corsa di Primavera.