Overall win at the Giro d’ Italia 2011 “doesn’t bring emotions” for Michele Scarponi
Michele Scarponi rode brilliantly during the Giro d’ Italia 2011, but could not stop Alberto Contador from grabbing his sixth overall win at the Grand Tours.
The Italian finished six minutes and 10 seconds behind Contador to claim the second overall spot.
However, Alberto’s suspension from professional cycling resulted in Scarponi’s overall victory at the Italian Grand Tour.
Court of Arbitration for Sport handed him a two-year ban from professional cycling after the cyclist was accused of using clenbuterol during the Tour de France 2010.
The 29-year-old is now prohibited to ride until August 2012 and has also been stripped off from all the victories since the 2010 version of the French Grand Tour.
His disqualification resulted in the first ever overall spot for Michele Scarponi at the Grand Tours after his 11th appearance at the mega events.
However, the 32-year-old has illustrated that although he has entered the record books but he does not feel like a winner.
“You celebrate wins on the road, with the flowers, the podium girls and the people. On that day, at the Duomo in Milan, with the national anthem and a blue sky, Being awarded first place afterwards doesn’t bring emotions, it’s a statistic”, Scarponi told Gazzetta dello Sport.
Michele had a splendid 2011 season and also grabbed the Giro d’ Italia points classifications during the most recent edition of the Italian race.
He also succeeded at the Giro del Trentino and the Volta a Catalunya during the 2011 season.
Scarponi finished 3rd overall at the Tirreno-Adriatico, 4th at the Giro di Sardegna and 6th during the Milan-San Remo to fold a terrific 2011 season.
The Italian has not confirmed whether or not he will ride the Giro d’ Italia 2012 and has shown interest to ride the Tour instead.
He hinted, “The Giro is the race I love, because the Italy of the Giro is much more beautiful than the Italy you see every day on the television, if I don’t ride it, I wouldn’t defend my title, but I don’t feel that title is mine”.
While admiring the French race, Scarponi said that the Tour de France is undoubtedly the most prestigious cycling event and he is willing to test his legs in France this year.
Michele’s last appearance at the French event was back in 2004, where he claimed the 32nd overall position. He is keen to climb the podium during the coming version of the race.
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