Thirty years. The years Marco has today, having been born on May 13, 1995. Thirty, like the years of separation from a father of whom he could only taste the skin's scent and the sweetness of first kisses. Marco was only two months old when on that terrible July 18th, '95, dad Fabio lost his young life on the roads of the Tour de France, following a terrifying fall during the descent of Portet-d'Aspet. A month before turning 25.

Thirty years later, here is the image of a boy turned man, who for a long time was a drop of water of his dad and today remembers him in his mild and gentle character. In our hearts and our eyes, there is also the heartbreaking image of Fabio in the Motorola jersey, curled up in a fetal position on the road. It seems like he's sleeping, even though that pool of blood tells of a story cut short. "For me, who has always lived him through stories, my dad is in a photo I keep in my room. I'm two months old, he's sitting on the couch and holding me: he's happy".

Marco, what is your relationship with the bicycle?
"Today I can finally say I have one. Since January, I decided to move around Forlì by bicycle. I took an old bike of my dad's, a silver mountain bike with purple details, and although it's a bit small for me, I use it. That's my relationship with the bicycle".

And with sports?
"None, I'm lazy like my mom. Until I was 24, I limited myself to going to the pool and as an alternative practiced all racket sports: from tennis to padel. Today I've even set those aside".

Don't even mention cycling...
"I don't talk about it because I have no expertise, but I listen. I'm someone who listens a lot and I like that. I have two grandparents, both named Sergio, who have always been passionate. Today my mom's parents are no longer here, so when I go to my paternal grandparents, they tell me about cycling things".

But do you know who Pogacar is?
"I know he's a phenomenon, but if I saw him, I wouldn't recognize him".

Favorite team?
"My maternal grandparents, those from Forlì where I've always lived, were super Inter fans: to make them happy... But I don't follow anything".

You are a freelancer, graduated in Graphic Design.
"Exactly. I have several clients, I work mainly with a dear friend (Danilo Scopece, ed.), with whom I did my studies".

Hobbies?
"Spending free time with Laura, my partner. We met at the Academy of Fine Arts and have been living together for six years. Now we're also in the process of moving: from mom Annalisa's villa (she lives upstairs, the kids downstairs), we're moving to another villa, that of her grandparents. We're moving 900 meters away".

Do you know you had a super-mom?
"I know. When I was little, mom did everything to protect me from the details of dad's death. I myself, growing up, did recovery work but only through VHS, which I had digitized and with which I reconstructed dad's sporting history, but I always avoided the photos showing him lifeless that still circulate on the Internet".

How many times have you seen the Barcelona finish?
"Many, many times. I really like rewatching those images. They are fragments of joy, a piece of history that belongs to me and that I feel deeply mine. Over the years, calmly, I reconstructed an emotional puzzle, made of stories and images. They tell me that characteristically I'm like him. They tell me that I'm calm, available, and good like him: I'm proud of that".

Do you still have connections with the cycling world?
"Yes, many. Dad really left a beautiful memory of himself and many are still close to us. Armstrong was initially very close to mom, then over time and with his doping problems, relationships somewhat loosened, but for me Lance remains the man who helped us when we needed it. Jim Ochowicz, the Motorola team manager, has remained very close. He doesn't fail to call mom with scientific regularity".

What did you keep from dad: medals, jerseys, cups...
"I had nothing until I turned 18. That day, grandpa Sergio, my dad's dad, gave me the Olympic medal from Barcelona '92. For years I left it with them, in Albese Con Cassano, but now I have it, since we organize the Casartelli Gran Fondo (on July 6, over a thousand registered, ed.) and in the days before we also have an exhibition with various memorabilia".

What weighed on you the most in these thirty years...
"Breathing the pain of this grave loss in the people I love most. I didn't experience a true mourning, but an absence, which is the most acute presence".

Do you love music?
"Not Italian music, not Ligabue like mom Annalisa who is an incurable fan. I love almost all music, from electronic to punk".

Flowers?
"Hydrangea, Laura's favorite flower".

What do you like about Laura?
"Everything: I'm too good with her".

Is marriage in the plans?
"It's planned, but first we need to settle in well".

Sea or mountain?
"I live not far from the sea, but I prefer the mountain: it's more peaceful".

Something Laura tells you when referring to your dad.
"You know, you ride your bike really slowly: what would your dad say?"

If you could meet your dad again, what would you ask him?
"I would tell him: dad, let's ride bikes and then have an aperitif. So many things I would want to know from him... it would take a lifetime".