Champion of the past on two wheels: Cosimo Lai, now 87 years old, with cycling among his best memories.
In 1961 he won the title of Sardinian road champion, followed by many other successes on the road and track.
Today you see him every day in the village, on foot, he stops with everyone, remembers the past.
He also spoke with today's champions and amateurs, speaking at length about his past which he remembers with great clarity. Between amarcord and pride.
«In 1961 I won the Sardinian title after a solitary escape of 208 kilometres: then many other successes on the road and on the track. Pattada, Sassari, Cagliari, Oristano, La Scala di Gioca, Ozieri, Carbonia, were the most important stages of my past as a cyclist. In the middle of the month I will be rewarded in Oristano."
Today Cosimo Lai likes, as mentioned, to talk, meet cyclists and amateurs who populate the coast especially on Saturdays but also the streets and hills of Sinnai. He spares no advice to everyone.
Yesterday he met the Sardinian mountain bike champion Luca Dessì, from Settimo San Pietro, and Maurizio Olla from Sinnai, third overall in the same MTB championship. With them, the president of Karel sport Sinnai, Giorgio Lecca.
«For us - says Lecca - it is always a pleasure to talk to Mr. Lai. We listen to him with the utmost attention. He was a great figure in Sardinian cycling."
Around them a cloud of onlookers. The old champion with the white beard reminds everyone of the cycling of the past, the very heavy bikes of his time. Compared to that past, everything has changed. The fascination for two wheels remains unchanged.
Today, many people are returning to the bike, even for a simple healthy excursion with friends. Everything is positive when you do sport that brings friendship and aggregation.
Karel sport Sinnai has its role in this context. «A club – says Cosimo Lai himself – that is growing with many young members and also with middle-aged amateurs».
