World cycling legend Fabian Cancellara is visiting Australia for the first time in his life as a guest of the Tour Down Under
The Santos Tour Down Under’s new race director from 2021 Stuart O’Grady influenced one of cycling’s greatest to visit Adelaide during the WorldTour race in 2020.
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Swiss road cycling star Fabian Cancellara earned the nickname Spartacus for his feats on and off the bike. It’s a moniker that sits well with him.
Spartacus was a legendary Thracian gladiator who became a slave leader during the slave uprising against the Roman Republic.
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He was trained as a gladiator at Capua, Italy, just 120km from Campobasso where Cancellara has direct ancestors on one side of his family. According to legend, Spartacus fought for the oppressed and put himself before others – characteristics Cancellara displayed during his celebrated career.
“My name Spartacus, as a bike rider, was really like giving back and being around and taking care of others,’’ he said.
“I needed that in the team. That’s also why that name Spartacus stands up, in a good way – it’s nice.”
Cancellera won four individual time trial world titles and a hat-trick of victories at the Paris-Roubaix – arguably the world’s hardest one-day bike race.
He is also the reigning Olympic road race gold medallist and had seven stage wins at the Tour de France.
For the first time, the now retired Cancellera, 38, will travel to Australia this week where he will be honoured at the Santos Tour Down Under 2020 Legends’ Night, at Adelaide Convention Centre.
He will also be the focal point of many amateur riders in the annual Westpac Challenge Tour – presented by The Advertiser – where cyclists tackle Stage 4 from The Parade, in Norwood, to Murray Bridge on January 24.
“At the Tour Down Under there are the professionals but we have to go deeper,” Cancellara said.
“It’s mass-participation cycling – the kids, and the experience for the fans.
“I think for people that don’t know much about being a professional on the bike it’s about city cycling, the lifestyle, the experiences. I’ll bring my bicycle, and I hope it’s going to be hot, really hot, and that’s the way it is. It’s nice.”
Cancellara hopes to spend time with his good friend a former teammate, newly appointed Tour Down Under race director Stuart O’Grady, who convinced him to make his first visit Australia.
“The timing was never right (to visit previously), but Stuey is the one who spoke to me, he motivated me and we want to do something nice in Australia,’’ Cancellara said.
“I’m looking forward to being at Stuey’s place. I know he’s going to be busy and I’m going to be busy. “I have some obligations but that’s fair, that’s normal.
“I’m looking forward to just be around and to see the cycling exposition and the cycling experience in Australia, in general.
“Cycling in Australia is improving every year and now you have so many professionals. On the WorldTour and not so long ago it was never like that.”
Cancellera expects to stay in Adelaide for at least a week, and is looking forward to visiting some of the tourist attractions he has heard so much about.
“I’d love to see Adelaide and South Australia – the wine, the beauty and the backyard of the state,’’ he said.
“To see the beach, but to maybe not swim in the water because there are some sharks.”
Cancellara earned his status as one of the world’s most-feared and celebrated cyclists against the odds.
He was studying to be an electrician and was riding the bike – more for recreation – when he won a second junior world title in 1999.
At that point in time he had to make a decision which would change the entire direction of his destiny when he gave up soccer, at which he also excelled, for the bike.
His first professional cycling team, Mapei-QuickStep, came knocking on his door near Bern, the Swiss capital, 21 years ago.
“The mentality within the Cancellara household was that I needed to finish my studies, complete my mandatory military service, and then I could consider life as a cyclist,’’ Cancellara said.
“But everything changed when Mapei knocked on the door.
“This was the all-conquering Mapei, with the divine Colnago bikes and their distinctive kit.
“It was the team of glittering stars, where I knew that I’d be learning from some of the best minds in the sport.
“Immediately, I realised that this was my one chance.
“You don’t say no to Mapei.”