Written by Don Hamstre of Schiavi di Don
  
  1. Hi Sandro, it is an absolute honor to be interviewing you today. As usual, I would like our readers to get to know your background a little better. Where did you grow up, and what did you do during your youth?
  Hi,
  The honor is mine that you wanted to meet and know more about me, I hope some of your readers will be interested in my story.
  I grew up in Sicily, probably the most beautiful place in the world. But I may not be the only one saying it, am I?
  And I had a very happy childhood, although my parents divorced when I was very young, but life seemed to be just having fun with my friends and cousins these days, so really nothing to complain about.
  
  2. When and where did you start cycling?
  Actually this is where I started cycling regularly, around 10 years old, the best way to be independant was to have strong legs back then. And it was half a pleasure and half an obligation, because i had no other options to see my friends if my parents were not available.
  But in the end I rarely felt compelled to ride my bike, I almost always liked to move that way.
  
  3. What made you decide to move to France?
  It took time to leave my homeland, however I do not regret it at all. And what convinced me was a woman, who became my wife since. I could have answered that I moved to join my team and it was also part of my decision, but not mainly.
  
  4. Which place in your new home did you like best? Could be your favorite bike ride, or your favorite city. France has so much to choose from, I can imagine it might be more than one. :)
  Clearly the landscapes, which provides incredible points of view when walking, and of course when cycling.
  I won't explain exactly where I live, but Brittany is clearly as beautiful as Sicily, and everytime I take a walk, it seems I discover absolutely mind-blowing new sceneries.
  
  5. What was the moment that you realized you had the talent to become a professional cyclist?
  Severel steps, just as in a life, I would answer.
  When did I realize I had something more than my friends in the legs? Very young.
  But when did I know I could become a professional rider? Actually when i was hired by Tim from Gradient Levellers. Of course some scouters came to test me and see what I was capable of, but I tried to convinced me it does not mean anything to avoid a huge disappointement.
  And eventually, Gradient Levellers made me a proposal, which was quite a relief, because I couldn't help to hope, although I knew I shouldn't !
  
  6.

What is your earliest race memory?
  Honestly i do not remember my first race, and my first seasons are so far that I could not really name a race. However, I can tell you my first great result was my 3rd place in the WC ITT.
  
  7. Of course Essex Tour is by far your most successful tour. What made it so special for you? Did you start to feel invincible there after so many wins in a row? And which of those wins is the most special to you?
  I would not say I was the best rider on OCM Tour, by far. But this tour just fit me perfectly. Or the contrary maybe? No big climbs, good for my weight, which helped me a lot with the wind and the hills, and of course a TT stage in which I could make big time gaps over other contenders when I had good legs.
  And i wouldn't say no one could beat me during my prime, just that he had to feel better than he ever did !
  Maybe the same feeling as Rafael Nadal in Roland Garros. Some did beat him on clay, but it takes so much to do ! I'm not comparing myself to him, he had a career way better than mine, just try to explain how i felt in this particular tour.
  If i had to pick only one, it would be the first one of course. A tremendous feeling to win it over and over, but the first one was so special, almost unexpected, a dream come true !
  
  8. Besides Essex, what was your other favorite race to ride?
  Before discovering Essex, i just tought i was made for time trial races only, and as a time trialist, the WC ITT remains the biggest achievement you can reach. And it is probably one of my biggest regret, never winning this special race. Twice on the poidum, several times in the top 9, but never the WC jersey on my shoulders.
  You can't have everything.
  
  9. One of the moments I remember the best, is your Hour Record attempt. You set a distance that at that point was the record, and still is the 4th best ever at the moment. How much did that hour hurt?
  Honestly it had never been a real aim for me or my team. Just remember talking about it with the coach, and we just thought it would be a waste not to try it at least once. That's what I did, with the result we all know.
  And thinking of it now, I'm quite sure I could have been prepared much better and set a distance that could have hold longer before being beaten.
  But as i said, not a goal for me, so no heart feeling. On the contrary, quite glad and proud so many saw my mark as the time to beat for so long !
  
  10. Besides your career at Matrix Team, you have also been a valued member of the Italian National Team. Even though there is only one WT race on the WT calendar, you still got to ride for the Italian NT 40 times. How

did it feel to represent your home country?
  Of course a huge honor to be part of the National Team so often in my career ! And one of the best thing is to start as a rookie, feeling impressed to wear the Italian jersey for the first time and trying to perform better that ever before. And eventually welcome younger riders and try to teach them the few you know before retiring.
  
  11. Is there any rider that you saw as your great example?
  Honestly not. I had so many contenders I truly respected, and still respect today. To me examples can set you borderies you can't go beyond, maybe not the best way to break records !
  
  12. And is there any rider that you most enjoyed sharing the peloton with?
  My team mates of course, as sharing so much time and giving so much to reach our goals can only bring us together.
  And all our opponents that forced us to improve, although we did not see each others as enemies, more as fellows.
  But I won't name anyone, cause I would forget some and that's not the point.
  
  13. How was the time after retirement, and what are you doing right now?
  First weeks and months everything seemed so strange. Not that much free time because of the medias, just everhing different as it was the past 20 years !
  Now I'm used to it and I try to enjoy life's pleasures the best I can.
  
  14. Finally, you can close off the interview with anything you want. Is there anything you would still like to say, anything you think we missed earlier, or even a fun fact about yourself that nobody might know about. Anything goes. :)
  I won't add anything about me or my career, I'd rather talk about life, and I was told that end with a quote is always good, because someone else has already said it best, so if you can't top it, steal from them and go out strong. So here we are :
  « O me! O life!...
  Of the questions of these recurring;
  Of the endless trains of the faithless--
  Of cities filled with the foolish;
  What good amid these, O me, O life?'
  Answer. That you are here--that life exists, and identity;
  That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. »
  
  Thank you so much for having me !
  
   Dear readers, this has been the Great Sir Sandro Montelbano! Such a career and yet still such a nice and down to earth human being. It was a true pleasure to speak with him and get to know him better.
  
  Did you once manage a Legend of the Game, and would like to see an interview with him on front page? Contact The Don!