Forty years are history. For many they are time to “harvest” but not for Dante Armanini, President of the Bardolino sports group who celebrates the round figure of one of the most iconic triathlons in circulation on Saturday. For him it is still time for “sowing”: “The most compelling thing to do has always been to propose something different, perhaps for some also unusual, but still original and unique- he had explained little time ago by presenting this year- something that would allow to distinguish Bardolino’s triathlon from all other events …”.
Mission accomplished. The Bardolino Olimpico who disputes the day after tomorrow is a little history in itself and will continue to make it with innovations and large gimmick that have left their mark as the two -storey gearbox that had caused a sensation a few years ago or the creation of a labyrinthine reticulus of artificial bridges and catwalks to accompany triathletes and triathletes in the different hamlets of the race or, again, the introduction of the electronic tailored that was electronically A absolute novelty in the late 80s.
But forty times Bardolino, like it or not, are a piece of Triathlon history, at least ours. They are thousands of athletes who dived into the waters of Garda, who have pedaling and course. Facce from champions, champions, faces of simple fans, faces that came here and returned, faces satisfied for the mere fact of being able to say I was there, I was there and Saturday I will be there. Forty times Bardolino the day after tomorrow will be more than 1200 athletes at the start of over 20 different nations such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Iceland, Finland and Sweden. Forty times Bardolino are the pride of having made a classic of triathlon like the Sanremo for cycling, such as Wimbledon for tennis….
Forty years was September 2nd When the first 69 Italian triathletes started from Piazza Bra to Verona. A small assault troop, quite improvised and coming from other sports that for the first time perhaps tried to put everything together. An eight kilometer circuit, with the arena in the background, and then away by bike through the Valpolicella up to the Mirabello lakefront in Bardolino. And here we dived following the route of the buoys and boats to Punta Cornicello and then returned to the marina of Piazza Amedeo in front of the wine shop. Perhaps it was not exactly the case but the pages of local newspapers headlined with great enthusiasm: “Verona baptize the triathlon in Italy …”. And again: “The triathlon fever explodes in Verona”.
How much years ago the triathlon was unwanted and brave pioneers stuff. Steel bike stuff, from shorts and shirts as happened other than carbon, body and floating mutes. Perhaps it really did not really start from Bardolino sure is that Bardolino was one of the first important events for those who had decided that running, pedaling and swimming had to be a single sport. For the record, as Silvio Camettisul of the Swimming news wrote, the first at the finish was Gianpaolo Cantoni, a water polo player who, however, ran strong and also got by bike. Behind him two swimmers: Roberto Olmi and Alberto Guerrini. And in sixth place that Dante Armanini Which still today is the heart, mind and soul of this triathlon. A life ago. But continues. Because forty years Sobo History and glory but there are those who are not satisfied …