Crotone coach completes 1,300km bike ride vow
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Crotone coach Davide Nicola has kept his promise and completed his 1,300km bike ride from Calabria to Turin after his team avoided relegation in Serie A last summer.
Two months ago, Nicola, with his team looking set for relegation to the Serie B, pledged to cycle all the way from the Stadio Scida in Crotone to his home town in Turin if they escaped the drop.
The Squali were in the bottom three for the entire campaign, except for the final 70 minutes, as they beat Lazio 3-1 in the last round and saw Empoli lose in Palermo.
And on Sunday, the tactician fulfilled his promise as he arrived in his home town of Vigone near Turin - nine days after leaving Crotone.
Nicola travelled along with his brother-in-law, nephew and Crotone staff member Elmiro Trombino up via Taranto, Bari, Pescara, Ancona, Livorno, Genoa and then Turin.
"Am I tired? I still do not feel any particular pain," Nicola told reporters.
"It's been a beautiful journey, a fairytale. From tomorrow maybe I will feel a bit tired, but what matters most to me is that my goal has been achieved."
It was an emotional journey for Nicola as the journey's end is where his 14-year-old son Alessandro was killed in 2014 while riding his bike when he was hit by a bus.
The 44-year-old is also dedicating it to MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden and former Giro d'Italia winner Michele Scarponi, who were both killed when their bikes were hit by vehicles in Italy.
He added: "I kept the promise and, with the help of many people, we have also attracted the attention of many people to the question of safety on the roads.
"Here in Turin I was greeted with great enthusiasm, I am very excited."
Crotone took just 14 points from their first 29 games but won six of their last nine matches to finish on 34 points, two points above the relegation zone.
Even with their remarkable late run, Crotone began the final day of the season in the drop zone but they defeated Lazio to leapfrog Empoli, who lost at Palermo and were relegated instead.
Two months ago, Nicola, with his team looking set for relegation to the Serie B, pledged to cycle all the way from the Stadio Scida in Crotone to his home town in Turin if they escaped the drop.
The Squali were in the bottom three for the entire campaign, except for the final 70 minutes, as they beat Lazio 3-1 in the last round and saw Empoli lose in Palermo.
And on Sunday, the tactician fulfilled his promise as he arrived in his home town of Vigone near Turin - nine days after leaving Crotone.
Nicola travelled along with his brother-in-law, nephew and Crotone staff member Elmiro Trombino up via Taranto, Bari, Pescara, Ancona, Livorno, Genoa and then Turin.
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| Photo: Facebook/F.C.Crotone |
"Am I tired? I still do not feel any particular pain," Nicola told reporters.
"It's been a beautiful journey, a fairytale. From tomorrow maybe I will feel a bit tired, but what matters most to me is that my goal has been achieved."
It was an emotional journey for Nicola as the journey's end is where his 14-year-old son Alessandro was killed in 2014 while riding his bike when he was hit by a bus.
The 44-year-old is also dedicating it to MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden and former Giro d'Italia winner Michele Scarponi, who were both killed when their bikes were hit by vehicles in Italy.
He added: "I kept the promise and, with the help of many people, we have also attracted the attention of many people to the question of safety on the roads.
"Here in Turin I was greeted with great enthusiasm, I am very excited."
Crotone took just 14 points from their first 29 games but won six of their last nine matches to finish on 34 points, two points above the relegation zone.
Even with their remarkable late run, Crotone began the final day of the season in the drop zone but they defeated Lazio to leapfrog Empoli, who lost at Palermo and were relegated instead.
Un'impresa titanica, che ha unito tutta l'Italia, coinvolgendo la gente all'insegna dei nostri colori 🔴🔵
Posted by F.C. Crotone on Sunday, June 18, 2017
Mister Nicola è arrivato a casa. Ecco l'ultima tappa raccontata dagli amici di Sky.it
