Sonny Colbrelli retires: his words
Sonny Colbrelli retires: his words
After the big scare in March resulting in the installation of a defibrillator, Sonny Colbrelli made his retirement from racing official: “A year ago this time I was celebrating the most important victory of my career, Paris-Roubaix. I never thought I would find myself, a year later, facing one of the most difficult moments that life has put in front of me. But it is a life I want to be grateful for, one that I risked losing and that gave me a second chance: that of being here, remembering that I came out of the Hell of the North as a winner and that I did it in a legendary way that will remain in history and that I can tell my children about. It is from them, from my family, that I am finding the strength to accept this moment in my career.”
“After what happened in Catalunya, the hope that I could continue to be a professional driver never left me, however slight. I knew that the way back would be difficult with a defibrillator,” he continued in the note published by the Bahrain Victorious team. “In Italy it is not allowed by law. With the support of the team’s medical staff, headed by Dr. Zaccaria, I still did not give up. I resumed cycling under strict medical supervision and made several visits and consultations with specialists in the field. These included the director of the University Clinic of Padua, Prof. Corrado, who oversaw the implantation of the defibrillator. And an assessment was also made by those who have followed similar cases, such as soccer player Christian Eriksen, who, like me, has the defibrillator and has resumed his professional career. But cycling is not soccer. It is a different sport; you drive in the streets. You don’t play on a soccer field where, if needed, the medical team’s interventions can be timely. Their training activities take place in a confined area, whereas in the case of a cyclist you often find yourself alone for hours on lightly traveled roads.”
“I say goodbye to cycling and try to do it with a smile for the good it has given me, although saying goodbye after a season like last year hurts. It was the best of my career. I learned what life offers and what life takes. But it also gives back in a different form. I will remain in cycling with Bahrain Victorious, which has been close to me like a second family and will accompany me in this transition period to a new role that will evolve daily. I will be an ambassador for our partners, work closely with the team and share my experience with my teammates.”
“I have been happy to see how the children have taken me as a role model over the past few months. Maybe, I tell myself, because the man covered in mud looks a bit like a superhero. For them I would like to do something sooner or later. In the meantime I will also have the opportunity to be a reference for Team Bahrain Victorious and the development teams: Cycling Team Friuli and Cannibal U19. New challenges await me and with courage I am preparing to face them. I want to do it with a smile on my face to continue to rejoice in every race I will do, if only for fun and no longer for competition,” Colbrelli concluded.
