Franco Pellizotti's 15-year racing career officially ended in the days after Il Lombardia, with the switch to the role of directeur sportif at Bahrain-Merida coming quickly as the team gathered to plan and prepare for 2019. Pellizotti still had the lean physique of a rider and was still competitive despite being 40, but he was ready to start a new chapter in his life and career.
"I realised everything had changed when I no longer sat at the riders' dinner table but with the other directeurs sportifs. I could eat anything and everything I wanted, but it felt strange because the riders' table is sacred in some ways, and I'd sat there for so many years," Pellizotti tells Cyclingnews, slightly emotional as he acknowledges the symbolism of the change in his life.
"Il Lombardia was my last real race, and then the Saitama Criterium was the last time I pinned on a number. I've chosen to retire now, and it feels right, even if it is emotional. But I'm happy with the decision. It'll be something new for me and very different, but I'm curious to see what it's like on 'the other side'."
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A career of two parts
Pellizotti did not have a glittering career but was admired for his intelligence, his friendly nature and using his climbing and Grand Tour talents. His 15 years as a professional began with the Alessio team in 2002 and continued at Liquigas between 2005 and 2010, where he rode with and for Vincenzo Nibali, Ivan Basso, Danilo Di Luca and then neo-pro Peter Sagan.
At the time, the distinctive green Liquigas jerseys dominated the Italian peloton, matching the biggest WorldTour teams of the era. Pellizotti stood out due to his likeable character, his reams of curly hair and the nickname of 'Il Delfino di Bibione' – The Dolphin from Bibione.
Pellizotti finished fourth at the 2008 Giro d'Italia, winning the mountain time trial to Plan des Corones and then finished third at the 2009 Giro d'Italia, winning the polka-dot jersey at the Tour de France. He seemed at the peak of his career, but in 2010 he was snared by the UCI Biological Passport, with unusual blood values emerging during the peak of his success in 2009.
'I've tried to learn as much as I can while in the saddle'
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/pellizotti-swaps-the-saddle-for-directeur-sportif-role-at-bahrain-merida
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