For Lionel Scaloni, challenges are part of his daily routine. It doesn’t matter if it’s about assuming the role of interim coach, facing his first World Cup and winning it, or even getting on a bike to face one of the mountain passes. The coach got on the bike, started pedaling and ended up crowning El Anglirua hill in the Principality of Asturias in Spain.
Pedro Delgado, winner of the Tour de France in 1988 and of the Vuelta a España in 1985 and 1989, invited the Argentine coach to go up after his son was impressed when he saw Scaloni’s brand in the Mallorca 312 cycling tour. The climb to the Asturian summit was made for the Spanish Television (TVE) program ‘Perico Puertos’. “It was he who encouraged me to invite him to the ‘Perico Puertos’. Lionel quickly accepted, he was motivated by the challenge we set him, and it has already been seen that it has been a success to bring him”, said the Spanish exciclist, to The New Spain.
The Argentine traveled from Mallorca, his habitual residence, to the Principality of Asturias to carry out the challenge together with Delgado. Both started from El Cordal to crown El Angliru. “I was very surprised by the strength and preparation that Scaloni has. I knew it was going well, but I didn’t expect such a performance”said Delgado at the end of the stage, in The New Spain.
Scaloni stated “since I left football I have been passionate about cycling and every day I ride an hour and a half, although more on a mountain bike than on a road bike. I was very excited to come to know these mythical mountains of the Vuelta to Spain, with the worldwide fame that they have and for that reason I accepted Pedro’s invitation with delight”. As they climbed the mountain, they also talked about the Argentine’s passion for soccer and his career as a soccer player. “I became a real footballer at Deportivo de La Coruña and I am very grateful to them. I always liked the landscape of Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria even though I live in Palma”, explained the world champion.
“This climb has nothing to do with that of Puig Major in Mallorca. Here I use developments of 35 chainring teeth by 36 pinion and it costs a lot to raise itScaloni said of the tough climb. Once upstairs, the two gave each other a big hug. “It was an incredible experience to get to know these mythical mountains and climb them by your side”, acknowledged the Argentine once the adventure was over.
