10 years ago, his story was illustrated on the back cover of this newspaper in the 21st century zoo section, a window through which characters with unique stories peeked out.. Then, the Italian Domenico Pozzovivo (Policoro, 1982) was one of the claims of the Tour of Spain for his skills as a climber and for his academic training and unusual skills in the field of cycling.. A decade later, the Italian continues to gain notoriety in the Giro. At 40 years old, he is the grandfather of the Corsa Rosa and intends to match the record for the most participations.
The small climber (1.65 meters and 52 kilos) from the Israel team debuted as a professional in 2005, a year marked by mud. So, Lance Armstrong signed his last blood victory in the Tour de France. Roberto Heras won the Tour of Spain, the one that was taken from him for doping and that he later recovered in court. The Giro d'Italia went to Paolo Savoldelli, Armstrong's domestique on the Discovery Channel.
Pozzovivo has seen situations of all colors. Nothing surprises him anymore in this cycling governed by precocious kids and immense talent. The oldest of the Giro, ahead of the Spanish Luis León Sánchez (39), the British Mark Cavendish (38) and the Japanese Yukiya Arashiro (38), made his debut in the Giro d'Italia in 2005, with the Colnago group, and then He was already pointing out his remarkable conditions as a climber. He already has 17 participations (five times he finished in the top ten) and now he has proposed, at least, to equal the record of 18, held by his compatriot Wladimiro Panizza. “This record is an incentive to continue running still. It will be difficult to beat him in 2025, but now I only look at this Giro”, he said on the eve of the start of this edition, in which he rides with the jersey of the Israel team, led by Chris Froome, with whom he signed already started the season, after several weeks training without a team.
Pozzovivo is a cyclist with concerns, in that report published in EL MUNDO in September 2013, he already warned that he was breaking rules. “Yes, I can be considered an outlier, because it is not usual for a cyclist to study and be able to finish a race. Cycling absorbs you a lot and it is difficult to find time for books. I decided to dedicate myself to studies because it is not difficult for me to study. In the end I decided on the Economy. I like the numbers,” he explained.
The Italian climber comes from a humble family. His father dedicated himself to agriculture and from him he inherited his passion for meteorology.. Whenever he leaves the house, he checks the sky and the wind to see what the weather is waiting for him.. He has become an expert in isobars and squalls. For five years he received private music lessons. he loves the piano. He has confessed that whenever he can he throws himself into playing the piano in the team's concentration hotels.
Pozzovivo assures that to stay in the elite at 40 it is necessary to feel enthusiasm for cycling, but also a strict discipline. For more than 10 years, he has planned his diet himself and undergoes rigorous physical training.
The Economics graduate intends to finish this Giro in the top 10 overall. Since the beginning of the round he has followed an upward progression, he started in 71st place and each day he has risen in the ranks, now he is 23rd, 3.01 behind the leader, the Norwegian Leknessund. His best place in a stage was 11th, on day four, which ended at Lago Laceno, a peak he already won in 2012 (his only victory in the Giro).. His record also includes the conquest of the Giro del Trentino (2012) and stage victory in the Swiss Tour (2017), Volta a Catalunya (2015), Tour of Slovenia (2012) and Lombard Week (2009).