Most Illustrious Director Stagi, 

promoting my sport is not my responsibility, I am simply asked to comment on it. The criterion by which I was chosen to perform this task stems from the experience accumulated over 18 seasons as a professional and, to date, 25 years of technical television and radio commentary. Contractually I express opinions as an expert, I am not required to do so in correct Italian, however I apply myself following the basic grammatical rules of our language. When I deem it useful, I do not shy away from doing so with irony, it can help the viewer follow with greater ease a discipline that does not always offer moments of high-volume news. In your case, a preliminary comment or a simple subtitle warning that I will be ironic might be useful; I will ask the excellent technicians who support us to verify its feasibility. I am aware that my person and my method cannot please everyone, and I am equally aware that my opinions may not be shared, but, unfortunately for you, they called me to perform this task and I assure you that I consider it a privilege not to be taken for granted, which I approach on every occasion with great attention, preparation and respect.

That said, among all the very interesting concepts you allowed yourself to comment on regarding my "ancient" point of view, I prefer not to address your comments on UAE's strategy (while remaining curious to know how many years you spent in the professional peloton that would allow you to do so with such arrogant authority), but rather on the phrase "when our valiant commentators raced, races were one continuous agreement: in short, a real blast".

This unacceptable comment certifies your extremely poor cycling culture, which discredits, dishonors and offends not only myself, but generations of riders who over time have contributed to making this sport great by captivating millions of people.

P.S. a detail I care deeply about: next time cite me, I grant you authorization.

Silvio Martinello

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Dear Silvio,
and I apologize if I don't call you Your Excellency, but we have always been on familiar terms, and although I raced with little success on a bicycle (I was rather poor) and you have become known for clear and well-known sporting honors, for some years now, I could say a lifetime, I have been involved in cycling and bicycles: a true passion. And it is about this that I would like to talk to you, about passion. About the value of cycling, which is not determined by "unwritten codes", which I know perfectly well and which, if they are not written, should not be continuously evoked as the panacea for all ills, as a remedy for a cycling that I have never deeply loved. I find it miseducative: do you like it or do I seem too preachy to you? I appreciate more those who pedal to the death than those who let breakaways and riders go for a thousand and more reasons. I prefer a Tour of battle to a race exasperatingly managed with a balance scale to please everyone. I prefer a UAE that pulls to do its own job and I enjoy like a child seeing that a world-class rider like Van der Poel, in any case, goes on to win.

I like to point out a tactical error like the one committed by Lid-Trek that yesterday could have stopped its two fugitives earlier to try to win with Mads Pedersen (something that was also said live on Eurosport by Moreno Moser: I follow both broadcasts, as you can see I am clearly sick) and that didn't even occur to you. If that's the case, on the Tourmalet stage you declared with conviction (and you do well, everyone has their own) that Taddeo had left too early. But where is he going? He exaggerates like that. As if it were the first time, as if you weren't used to seeing him in action. Will he blow up? Maybe, who knows. Just know that fools can write the history of sport and Taddeo is rewriting it. With this vision Coppi should never have attacked early in the morning on the Cuneo-Pinerolo. He accomplished a feat that went against all logic and every manual of good cycling, but feats are like this: how thin is the line between being wise or foolish.

Finally, two clarifications. I made no reference whatsoever to your Italian, which is excellent, of course not. But what I most want to tell you is that I did not cite you simply because my thought was directed somewhat at all TV commentators, some more and some less, on unified networks: from RAI to Eurosport. This concept of an inhuman and greedy UAE, that doesn't let breakaways get away, you didn't express only you and therefore, I made no precise references, but a more general discourse. I simply said what I think, which is probably a sesquipedalian nonsense, but it is still what I believe. I repeat, I find nothing appealing in the "unwritten code". In that cycling of under-the-table agreements that have always existed, but which in my opinion should remain under the surface. You say that I offended a generation of riders? I say that you, by continuing to speak this way, offend cycling and the many enthusiasts who follow you. You have a responsibility. And no small one at that.

Pier