Scarponi rode under the flag of his fan club. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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In 2011, I photographed Tirreno-Adriatico in Italy. On stage 6, the race went through Filottrano, Michele Scarponi’s hometown. As I was passing thorough Filottrano on the way to the finish in Macerata, I couldn’t help but notice how popular Scarponi was. I stopped to check out the town and take some photographs. There were signs and banners for him all over town, but there were very few people out and about. As it turns out, they were all at the finish 25 kilometers away in Macerata awaiting the arrival of their hometown hero. The circuit through Macerata took the riders up and down 20 percent grades — it’s no wonder Scarponi was such a great climber. He finished third that day, but you would have thought he was the winner by the amount of avid support that was present at the podium presentation.
In 2011, stage 6 of Tirreno-Adriatico went through Filottrano, the hometown of Michele Scarponi. The stage finished in the nearby town of Macerata. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
Approaching the town of Filottrano, the Scarponi fan club signs started popping up along the roadside. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
Workers were busy clearing the roads in preparation for the arrival of local favorite Scarponi. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
There were banners all over the area carrying words of encouragement for their hometown hero. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
Scarponi’s childhood hometown of Filottrano has a population of about 10,000. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
In the Filottrano there was a Scarponi banner hanging from the city center archway and a Scarponi flag flying above the clocktower. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
Images of Scarponi were hung in cafe windows. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
Friends and acquaintances hung banners for his arrival. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
Scarponi’s barber took the opportunity to show thanks and to say “You’re the man.” Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
You could not walk through town without noticing Scarponi’s presence and how much he meant to his fellow Italians. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
Signs of Scarponi were hung around every corner. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
Scarponi at the newsstand. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
The only thing in Filottrano that flew higher than the Scarponi flag was the Italian national flag. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
Fans were showing their support in any way they could. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
Once the peloton hit the circuit around Macerata, the Lampre team was all in for Scarponi. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
Scarponi rode under the flag of his fan club. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
The Scarponi fan club carried their flags and crowded the streets hoping to catch a glimpse of their hero. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
As other riders were dropped, Scarponi was well positioned for the finale. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
Scarponi flew through the final corner to the line so fast that the camera could not keep up. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
Scarponi finished third that day, giving the people what they wanted, to see their favorite rider on the podium. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
Young and old, they loved Michele Scarponi. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
Scarponi was given the most aggressive rider’s jersey on stage 6 of Tirreno-Adriatico 2011. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
