Written by Finz of NightmareChaos
Just before Essex start we are here in the Talbooth Hotel were we meet one of the most remarkable persons in the OCM calender and a living legend in Colchester. We have a pre-race interview with Sandro Montelbano, five time winner of our Essex tour. And that is five times in a row.
Welcome signore Montelbano, winner of five consecutive Essex Tours, they say you are again already prepared to go for number six. Are you feeling that confident?
W-w-w-well I-I am always c-c-con-confident
Ok, well as we all know you feel at home here. And recently you participated in Cymru Taith. Will you be more tired now, since you raced there. Or is it a great boost to come in Essex with a win under your belt.
W-w-w-winning in C-c-cymru Taith was v-v-very g-g-g-g-good f-f-for my self e-e-esteem. A-a-and it w-w-will b-bring fear to m-m-m-my op-op-opponents.
Yes, because most of your opponents lack either the ability to time trial or they lack the strength to ride uphill. Is there someone you fear most, for example two time winner Anghel Ghidarcea?
N-n-no, I do n-n-not f-f-fear him. H-h-he is t-t-too old for this r-r-race. T-t-the r-r-riders si-si-singed up are all les-les-lesser then me.
Well, after five victories | | you can be confident but saying this field is weak is a bit overdone. We think there is a nice field. There are some strong riders for the first stage, such as Jude Evans and Giovanni Faulk and Anatoliy Michala. They could surprise us.
N-n-no, they are t-t-too old. T-t-this is a t-t-tour for t-t-those in g-g-g-g-good shape. I a-am in the b-b-best shape of m-m-m-my life
So if you have any competition it is from someone who is younger then thirty, am I right.
In that case what do you think of the American Robert Thomas. He is in great shape, could do good in a tour and has experience.
Y-y-you know how w-w-w-we call him in t-t-the p-peloton. M-m-mister almost. B-b-because he a-a-almost won a t-t-tour.
But then there is the Polish rider Gracjan Sowa, he is maybe your biggest competitor in Essex this season.
T-t-that is true. B-b-b-but he is n-n-not r-ready fo-fo-for a big tour like this. O-o-only great r-r-riders such as m-m-myself can win here. J-j-j-just l-l-look at him. If he was s-s-such a gr-gr-great rider why did he not w-w-win more. T-t-that shows he is not as g-g-g-g-good as m-me.
M-m-my plan to c-c-conquer Essex again is as f-f-follow. S-s-stage one is the m-m-most im-imp-important stage. Here I w-w-will have s-s-superlegs. W-w-with these s-s-superlegs I will
| | win stage one. Yes, I w-w-win it. S-s-stage two is m-m-my te-te-terrain. N-n-nobody can win there but me. D-d-did you know t-t-they w-wanted to re-name Maldon into M-m-m-montelbano.
A-a-after s-stage two I have a con-con-confortable lead and I c-c-can start c-c-cele-celebrating.
But we have three stages in Essex. What will you do on stage three.
The thi-thir-third stage is not i-imp-important. I have won al-al-already. They can sp-spr-sprint for it.
So what you are saying is this. You will win Essex again this year for the sixth time in succession.
No. I s-s-say that I will win E-e-essex Tour e-e-every time I join. B-b-because I am t-t-that good. T-t-that is why my t-t-teammanager gives me a n-n-nickname. N-n-nobody can b-b-beat me on my t-t-terrain. If I l-l-loose this year I w-w-w-will ride n-n-naked next year in E-e-essex.
That is a bold statement you make there. Well for the sake of our children I do really hope that you win again. I wonder what the other riders have to say about these words you have said. I think they will not be very pleased.
No need to answer that, signore Montelbano. We have been here long enough already. We do want to wish you all the best and ofcourse the rest of the teams as well and tell us what your nickname will be, we are highly interested in that.
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