It was the first Italian to win an Olympic medal in the history of mountain bike maschile. And he was also the first rider to wear the i baggy shorts: the «long braghinoAs he calls it. So bicycle, but not only. Marco Aurelio Fontana has competed for over twenty years, has won world and European championships – in addition to the bronze of London 2012 – then the love for two wheels pushed him further, out of the competitive competitions.
«I felt the need to communicate the bike in a different way », revealed the Lombard champion protagonist of the final episode of «Drive Me Crazy 2», the series with Irene Saderini produced by Red Bull Media House and scheduled for Friday 8 January at 22.15 on the channel Motor Trend (59 of the DDT). «My goal was, and still is, to bring the bike in many different places, in contexts other than the standard ones. In other words, sharing my passion creating content».
Let’s start from the beginning, do you remember your first MTB?
«Of course, a 24-inch Giant flash: today my dad has it, who has always been a fan of two wheels. He gave it to me around the age of ten, even though at the time I was playing soccer and doing karate ».
How did love blossom?
“Many magazines circulated at home, I read them and dreamed a little. With this first mountain bike, during the holidays in Rovegro – a village perched on Lake Maggiore – I started to go up and down the paths, between stones and dirt roads. I put into practice what was already in my head ».
The turning point: when did you realize you were doing well?
«In 2005 in Livigno, on the occasion of the under-23 world championship. Beyond the result – I finished 11th – I realized that with specific training I could go fast even uphill. That up to that moment was my cross: for me it was too hard, I liked the descents ».
Without fear, I guess.
«The bike, downhill, is the object that goes fastest, in some races you reach peaks of over 60 km / h. The risks are there, but luckily I have never had any serious injuries: I dislocated my shoulders several times, even just before the London Olympics ».
It almost brought her luck: do you have a particular memory of that medal?
«I hug you with my father: from an early age he took me to races with a van, we had been through a lot together. So I went up to him and said “dad, we made it” ».
He reached the end without a seat, it was a blue postcard from those Games.
«In truth, the saddle-holder broke: there was no longer even the tube, which is perhaps even better. Half a lap was missing, after an hour and a quarter your legs explode and I was forced to stay on the pedals ».
Not only descents, therefore also sacrifices. No?
«I think that image represents an example of how an Olympic athlete solves in a natural way an obstacle that seems insurmountable. Let’s say however that in bad luck, I was lucky: if I had punctured or broken the chain, I would have had to stop ».
As happened to her four years later, in Rio. Were they tears of anger?
«In reality I was satisfied because once again I was ready for the appointment, I proved to be there and to be able to aspire to a medal. The bad sort came into play: I followed another driver over a line of rocks and I punctured ».
During your racing career, have you ever thought about saying enough?
“When I said it, I did it. After the 2018 cross country world championship I realized that I no longer had the speed that was vital for me: although I was still a world championship rider, I no longer felt the plants flying at me. Fatigue was no longer accompanied by a smile, so stop ».
And didn’t you miss it? Or the desire to avenge the Olympic disappointment.
«I have never missed competitions, at first I even moved away a little. Honestly, however, when I see the athletes’ commercials ahead of the Games, something clicks. On the other hand, it is an event that gives you a very strong emotion ».
However, he has a lot to do.
“I launched my project, My Vision, I had this in mind for some time. A truly challenging experience because I became a pilot content creator, without a specific background. Even if over time I had kept drawings of some of my ideas ».
An athlete-stylist?
“I admit, I’m a little obsessed with the look. And I always have athletes who, regardless of the result, wore something more than their sporting gesture. A style, in fact, they managed to convey passion and strength with their way of doing: I, in my small way, I introduced the baggy shorts ».
What do you mean?
«In 2013, after pestering the team manager, my teammate and I went to cross country races with baggy shorts. Until then there were only tight suits, for aerodynamics. Today, however, many use the long braghino».
In his new project there is also a lot of electric bikes. Do you feel the difference with the traditional bike?
«The pedal assistance (up to 25 km / h) allows you to share the passion with friends who have a different pace, equalize the levels. Even Irene Saderini, in the episode of Drive Me Crazy, I took her on the e-bike and she had a lot of fun ».
Even you who are passionate about engines?
«We had planned a ride on an enduro motorcycle, then on a jet ski and finally on the e-bike. I was convinced that she would have liked the last experience more than the others: then Liguria on a bicycle reserves you breathtaking scenery ».
During the March-April lockdown, what did he do without a bike?
«I have intensified the production of vlogs, now I make one a week always with different ideas. I have a big garden, every day I took out a motorbike or a bicycle and I invented something together with my two children ».
Ready to inherit the passion?
“I’m happy if they don’t focus on one thing and develop multiple interests. The small one (5 years old) already goes like a splinter on the mini-bike. With the helmet always in the same color as the gloves and overalls: after all, even the attention to style must be handed down ».
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