Andrea Pusateri is ready for new challenges and to break more limits
A champion in life and sports
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In Monte Carlo, at Top Marques Monaco, there was also Andrea Pusateri, who recently became an ambassador of zondacrypto, the cryptocurrency exchange platform main sponsor of the event that will be staged in the Principality until Sunday. Sportal.it interviewed the 31-year-old Paralympic cyclist, who is ready for new challenges and was also the author of the interesting book entitled ‘Limits do not exist’ (Piemme).
Andrea, do these limits exist or not?
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My goal is to try to overcome them, maybe even destroy them.
And have you succeeded? Can you say that it is your mantra?
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Yes, absolutely. My mantra is to never give up, even when things get bad. I am convinced that in life there are more difficult moments than positive ones, but it is precisely from the negative ones that we must learn to draw strength to move forward.
How did you get started with cycling?
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It all came about a bit by accident. I was following a friend of mine who raced bikes for Ciclistica Monzese, and every weekend I went to see the races. We’re talking about the early 2000s. And from those weekends spent watching the races, I got the urge to try it myself. So I started my journey in para-cycling, which has led me to where I am today.
You were telling me about a tough climb you recently tackled…
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I’ve done many in my sporting life, but last week’s was the toughest one ever: the Sormano Wall. I had never tackled it before, but I decided to try it as a personal challenge. I got to the top with 200 beats per minute. It was really very hard but the satisfaction was immense.
Now there’s a new milestone to cross and one with an important meaning…
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Yes, there is the Giro d’Italia and, considering what recently happened to the Rovagnati family (the tragic death in February of CEO Lorenzo, ed.), I feel a great sense of responsibility: it was news that touched and saddened me enormously. The Rovagnati people gave me confidence and appreciated the message that, even with difficulties, one can move forward and accomplish great things.
There is another detail, and not a small one, that you can be proud of…
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I am proud to be the first Paralympic captain present at all the stages. It is a strong message of 101% inclusion and I am glad that it starts from Italy.
And zondacrypto? It has been with you from the beginning…
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Yes, with zondacrypto it all started at Strade Bianche. After that race they believed in me, my values and the challenges I want to face. In June I will start a new project, it’s called Beyond Limits: I will ride around Ireland in 15 days. That’s 2,700 km by bike, 180-200 km a day. I will also always thank my friends at zondacrypto because they have given me a great opportunity to tell my story, to let people know who I really am. And I will never stop being grateful to them.
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And speaking of “traditional” cycling? What’s going on in Italy? After Nibali there seems to be a void…
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Cycling is a tough sport, very selective. Now we have champions like Pogacar. In Italy we have riders, but not at that level. I speak as a sprinter: I was good in sprints, in final sprints. I was not complete on all terrain, but in my finals I was good at it. Complete sprinters today are very rare. And that explains a little bit the moment we are living. But even there I am convinced that we will come out of the difficulties: on two wheels we have never lacked talent.
