History tells that on that day – March 18, 1978, Milan-San Remo, 69th edition – Alessio Antonini attacked at Imperia, Beppe Saronni responded, Yves Hézard joined, and Roger De Vlaeminck followed. On the Poggio, the quartet had a 28" lead over the group, and at the bottom of the Poggio, with Hezard fallen, three remained. Legend has it that at that moment – less than 10 km from the finish – Saronni proposed to Antonini that he lead him out in exchange for 10 million lire (a figure that would grow in bars and over time to 50 million), but Antonini, boldly, replied "screw that, I'm winning today". Chronicles record that the "little-known" Antonini attacked too long, 250 meters out, that the gypsy De Vlaeminck, 30 years old, surprised the young Saronni, 20 years old, with De Vlaeminck first, Saronni second, and Antonini third, thus not only losing San Remo but also 10 (or perhaps 50) million.

Antonini from a working-class family, sixth of six, four brothers and two sisters, from Salò by registry, Vobarno by home, with grandfather also living there. Antonini from a sporting family, Luigi and Alessandro in cycling, up to amateur level, Armando in football, almost at Atalanta, and he too in cycling, elementary and vocational school then work, steel mills, training in the evening, bicycle and two batteries, the tour of three lakes – Garda, Idro, and Ledro –, sometimes his father, moved, would meet him with the Galletto and escort him safely home. Antonini, a fast passer who could defend himself uphill, 12 victories in 1971, two in 1972, professional with Jollj Ceramica in 1973, and a domestique he would remain until his last day in 1981 when he surrendered to an environment that no longer recognized him. "But is it right that riders must pay to become professionals?" A question for which he could not find a decent answer.

Antonini and the 1975 Giro d'Italia, twenty-first and final stage, arrival at Stelvio, "I'll take you to the foot of the Stelvio, then it's up to you" he said to his captain Fausto Bertoglio, who the following year would become his best man. Antonini and the 1975 Tour de France, forced to withdraw because only three of his team remained and the expense was considered beyond hopes and sentiments. Antonini and the 1976 Tour de France, tenaciously fifty-ninth, "because the Tour is the Tour, because no one gives you anything at the Tour, because at the Tour you must race every day, even to survive". Antonini and that Giro d'Italia (he rode eight, from 1973 to 1980) where he suffered a hunger crisis, "70 km from the finish, I didn't even know where I was, until someone handed me something to eat, I recovered, the last 10 km I went to the front of the group of stragglers, and we managed to avoid the time cut". Antonini and that Giro d'Italia, in the Alps, a group of fans who came from Vobarno to wait for him on the roadside, who asked him "want a push?", he replied "what else did you come for?". Antonini and that 1978 Milan-San Remo, "I was convinced that attacking early would surprise them and I'd make it, but the road was wet, my wheel slipped, the others noticed and reacted". Antonini and the philosophy of the domestique, "I was a domestique even on days of freedom when I could race, thus helping my teammates". Antonini and his racing philosophy, "I always gave everything I had", "I wanted to reach the finish line honestly, knowing I couldn't have done more". Antonini and Giovanni Battaglin's judgment of him, "the domestique I would always want with me".

Today Alessio depends on Luisa. They met at the races, she the daughter of Gigetto Rivetta, first a rider, then a sports director, fish shop and market fish stall, famous because he would set appointments for 3 PM, but would actually leave at 2:50, whoever was there was there, the others would chase, a good method to start training full-on, to death. "Met, fell in love, married, two children dedicated to swimming, a granddaughter on the way" – he recounts. Back then, women were taboo: the ideal rider was better off without a girlfriend, the ideal girlfriend was better off not going to races. Alessio was racing for IAG Gazoldo, 'stay home', he ordered her, but she went, he did 'a big race', when he returned home she revealed the truth, 'since it means nothing?'". Antonini "precise", Antonini "great worker on bike and in car", Antonini "first cycling then work, sales representative, were his life, no hours, not even Sunday".

Antonini who, after stopping racing, was a masseur for three years, then distanced himself from cycling, "but after a few more years he couldn't resist and came back, the call of the races, even along the road, to see the group and greet friends". Antonini who "continued pedaling until back pain prevented him". Antonini who now, Giro d'Italia or Tour de France, sits in front of the TV and watches those two-wheeled knights, so familiar to him. Antonini calm, smiling, serene, carefree, disoriented.