Loretto Petrucci, 81 years old and the only living Italian to have won two Milan-Sanremo has spoken out in an interview with "Il Tirreno" about the news that Carrera would have a doped bicycle at Eurobike in Friedrikcshafen. We reported on this a few days ago and thought that perhaps it was some stunt but apparently it is not. Paraphrasing some of Petrucci's comments:
"A shame.....At first I did not want believe it when they told me the story of a bike with an engine inside. Now there is confirmation. I say just one thing: it's the end of cycling. Everything will die soon. I say this with great regret, but I am sure that will happen.
Why, has no one moved a finger? Only after Ivano Fanini, who in June had presented a statement on the matter to Justice Guariniello, did the story come to life. Elsewhere there is silence. Can cycling accept such a thing? I repeat: a prototype electric racing bicycle produced in Italy? And the Italian cycling Federation is where? What do they say? Why not take position? Is it not concerned about such a thing? What will they do to prevent races that are polluted by this crap?"
Photo: Loretto Petrucchi winning the 1953 Milan-Sanremo (he also won the 1952 edition)
Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,500 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.
Larry wrote this essay two years ago. What he feared then seems to have come true.
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