Just under a week ago Giulio Ciccone had us glued to our television screens during the final stages of the road race at the European championships. Lots of joy, but above all great disappointment for that gold that slipped away by literally millimeters. A social media post with his frustration, certainly the thought is there but it seems for now to be water under the bridge; there's a Lombardia to race and for Ciccone it will be his last dance with the Lidl Trek team.

«Right after the Europeans I was sad about second place, but not angry, that's sport and I think now is the time to put a point on what happened and move forward. I have great respect for Remco Evenepoel, without a shadow of a doubt he was the strongest rider and deserved to win; I was accused of staying on his wheel, but we played tactically and I believe if he had had some Belgian behind him he would have done the same. But now we need to think about tomorrow, the Lombardia is the Lombardia, a very tough race, but one I care deeply about. I'm feeling good and I'd like to make the most of my condition» says Ciccone, who meanwhile is literally besieged in the mixed zone set up next to the presentation of the race of dead leaves. There are those who already present the list of teams he could go to and even the exact moment when the announcement will come, but Giulio responds with a smile. «Let's think about one thing at a time, for now I want to give everything in this last race for Lidl Trek and I also want to enjoy it»

It's no secret, without the presence of a strong name like Tadej Pogacar's the race is wide open, the bookmakers say Evenepoel or del Toro, but they're just two of many names that could come out of the favorites box. Ciccone has already been on the podium in 2024, a third place that could turn into something even bigger and so at this point the question is more than fair: what could and should we expect? «I expect a very open race in the finale, after the Ghisallo there's no Sormano wall or other intermediate climbs, we arrive directly in Como and the race will be very fast. In my opinion the crucial point will be the first passage on San Fermo, from there the race will explode completely. Certainly compared to previous years the absence of Tadej will make for a very open race, but there are many athletes to keep an eye on and the level is very high. In one-day races I'm proving to be competitive and I hope to give my best in my last race with Lidl Trek. Eight years is not a small thing, here I've grown both as an athlete and as a person»

Meanwhile the Ciccone vs Remco affair, as someone called it, has generated quite a few reactions on social media and great support for the Abruzzese who has found himself with a truly unexpected horde of fans. A few days ago trapper Tony Effe posted a video on social media in support of Ciccone in which he invites all his fans, even those unfamiliar with cycling, to take to the streets between Bergamo and Como, "make some noise" and support him. «Tony is not part of the cycling world, yet lately he's been getting very close to our sport, he's training, he's showing incredible willpower. He wants to unleash the masses to come support me and the more people there are on the roads, the more beautiful it will be to race such a tough race.»