Saturday, October 11, 2025, Giro di Lombardia. After 236.7 km from Como and 4.3 km from Bergamo's finish line, Tadej Pogacar pedals lightly towards the finish. He has 1'28" advantage over Evenepoel and more than 2' over other chasers. The City is high, he is even higher. The world champion jersey, number 1 bib, superior pace, divine rhythm.

But he is a human, Pogacar. He stands on the pedals, sits on the saddle, pulls out his water bottle, takes a sip of water, then spots a child in the crowd to his right, and throws the water bottle with the precision of a bocce player. The bottle rolls gently into the parent's hands, then becomes the child's possession. And Pogacar flies even lighter.

The child is named Tommaso Ratti, his father Elia Ratti, his grandfather Mario Ratti. Everything starts from here, from him, from his grandfather. Mario has a bakery in Villalvernia, at the foot of the climb leading to Castellania, that is, to Coppi, Fausto Coppi. That bakery is a treasure chest of ancient flavors, not only for bread, focaccia, croissants, lady's kisses, but also for memories, recollections, testimonies, stories. Castellania and Villalvernia, as well as Carezzano and Cassano Spinola, Guacciorna and Costa Vescovato, narrate the story of Coppi, Fausto and also Serse, through Ettore Milano and Sandrino Carrea, Biagio Cavanna and Pierino Zanelli, the Siof and Bianchi, the Milano-Castellania and Giro d'Italia, between triumphs and tragedies, between a mass funeral and January 2nd masses. Mario Ratti was friends with Sandrino Carrea: and that says it all.

So, when little Tommaso returns home with Pogacar's water bottle, it seems another perfect circle has closed. Coppi's five Lombardias and Pogacar's five. The water bottle handover from Coppi to Bartali (or from Bartali to Coppi) and from Pogacar to Tommaso. And the bicycle (and cycling), still, always, like a fountain pen writing on the asphalt road. History and geography, novel and poetry, in this case a fairy tale.

Now Tommaso would have a dream: to meet Tadej. Perhaps precisely on January 2nd. In Castellania, Coppi will be remembered on the day of his last earthly stage. And Pogacar, who knows how to amaze the world not only in competitive operations but also in human actions, could magically appear.

How beautiful it is, to dream. Right, Tommaso?