"I felt many different emotions during this Tour. Above all, I had the ambition to win a stage. I tried several times but I could not achieved that goal even if I did come close. But the other objective was to win the polka-dot jersey and I’ve realized that. With the ‘Fighting Spirit’ as well, I’m leaving this Tour with two awards which proves that I was present every day. Along with my team-mates we helped to animate this race.
“Going up on the podium of the Tour de France, with my wife Claudio and my two children just near by is an incredible feeling. I had already finished the Tour on the Champs-Elysées in the past but I’ve never gone through this ceremony.
“The battle for the polka-dot jersey went on for quite some time. I was very demanding to get it, and just as though to keep it. I am the first Italian to win this title after Claudio Chiappucci and that means a lot to me. When I saw him on the roads of the Tour all those years ago with this jersey… it was one of the images that remained with me; I wanted to win it one day.”
Interview
July 26
th
2009
- 19:05
Franco Pellizotti – “I was present every day...”
