The last place riders: those at the bottom of the general classification, the first in the sentimental standings. Because the last place riders belong to the domestiques, in perpetual struggle against the time limit and minimal energy reserves. The most human and the most humble. The most like us. This is the second installment.

He earned it at the 1972 Giro d'Italia. First, Eddy Merckx. Last, Piero Spinelli. Between the two, 67 riders as well as 2 hours, 10 minutes and 16 seconds which, at an average speed of 36 kilometers per hour, means 78 kilometers of distance. Looking at the statistics, not that much really, though between first and last there have been times when the gap was more than double. Yet, as Spinelli points out, there were moments when the first, Merckx, and the last, him, weren't really that far apart: for example, at the start.

Spinelli, thinking back on it now?

"It doesn't seem real. It doesn't seem real that I raced and finished seven Giro d'Italia races, five Tours of Switzerland, five Paris-Roubaix races, four Milan-San Remo races... It doesn't seem real that I even won, as an amateur, the Coppa Ciuffenna, the Città di Lucca, the Tuscan championship in three stages and, as a professional, the Coppa Sabatini. It doesn't seem real that I also wore the blue jersey, two World Championships in cyclocross. It doesn't seem real that, fighting or not, ahead or behind, I was in that group too. Nine years as a professional, a beautiful adventure. I examine my conscience and my conscience is clear. I lived on bread and water, I tried cortisone only once, but instead of getting stronger, I went slower".

That Giro?

"Domestique for Franco Bitossi at Filotex. Same village, Carmignano, and same room, separate beds, but different caliber, him a champion, me, precisely, a domestique. He would tell me: if you can make it, as long as you can, stay close to me. Without cameras, the captains would give each other a little 'push' and save their strength for the finale. Or domestique for Tista Baronchelli at Scic. Same size, same bike, different caliber. That time on Monte Generoso when Merckx had a bit of a crisis and Baronchelli, who wanted to take advantage of it, attacked before the final climb, so I stopped, got off my bike, gave him mine, waited for the team car, got a spare one, so small that I was pedaling with my knees in my mouth and immediately got leg cramps. That gesture was also appreciated by Ernesto Colnago. At the end of the season, when it was time to return the bike to him, he told me to keep it. A case more unique than rare. And I still have it. Celestina. A work of art".

Was the last place jersey coveted?

"No, that year there wasn't just no jersey but no prizes either. However, at the end of the Giro there were circuit races with appearance fees, and as a domestique, or rather, as Bitossi's driver, I raced almost all of them. We traveled in his Mercedes, I drove, he trusted me and rested. Bitossi was my captain, also my mentor, always a friend of mine. When he had heart attacks, I would sit on a curb next to him, wait for the attack to pass – white as a sheet, it was scary – then I'd help him get back into the group. He made it, I didn't. Bitossi introduced me to the old-timers in the group, also from other teams, who taught me the trade".

Moments of glory?

"Little or nothing, more reflected glory, that of the captains, than personal glory. However, one day I experienced that magical sensation of not feeling the chain. I was going strong. I was flying. It was at the 1978 Tour of Switzerland, the Affoltern stage, short but with two big mountain prizes, not that big, like San Baronto, the breakaway went off, I was there and there was also Giancarlo Bellini, my teammate at Zonca, and Bellini told me: let's attack in turns, I'll start, if they catch me you try. They didn't catch him. First him, second me".

Was Merckx really the Cannibal?

"The day before he had argued with the Spaniard José Manuel Fuente, so the next day, while we were having breakfast he and his team were already warming up, in single file, at full speed, like it was a team time trial. Before the start, Merckx told Bitossi: start ahead because I'm starting strong. Ready, go, fire and flames, the group exploded, I found myself at the back fighting to stay within the time limit. But there were about fifty of us, there were also several 'horses', like Polidori, Paolini, Boifava... and deep down we knew they couldn't throw us out of the race".