"I think this was one of the best days of my cycling life" - Alberto Bettiol about his emotional victory at Italian championships

The Grand Départ of the upcoming Tour de France will be special for Alberto Bettiol. The Tuscan, who lives about thirty kilometers from the starting city of Florence, will be able to enjoy crowds cheering the name of their local hero. And after his victory at the Italian championship in Tuscany, he will be granted the right to also start in the tricolor at the Tour.

"It will be very emotional to show this jersey all year round and especially next week during the Grand Départ of the Tour in Florence," said the 30-year-old rider on EF Education-EasyPost team website. "I want to thank the team and the people around me. My family and many friends were there today to cheer me on. It is awesome. I think this was one of the best days of my cycling life."

Bettiol won the Italian championship, starting in Florence and finishing in Sesto Fiorentino, with a solo effort. He had pulled away from his fellow escapees in the final. "I didn't expect to drop them because they were very strong. On the last lap I closed my eyes on the climb. I looked back, saw no one and kept going," said the new owner of the Italian tricolor.