Matteo Sobrero talks about his other passion: "Cycling and winegrowing are really quite similar"
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Matteo Sobrero is a man of many qualities, and that doesn't apply to just cycling. In an interview on Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe website, he unveils that he comes from a long line of winegrowers and after his cycling career ends, the trade will get passed onto him too.
"My parents are third-generation winegrowers. My sister and I will be the fourth." At 27 years old, Matteo still has his best years as a professional athlete ahead of him, but the path for his life after that is already clear. "When I was still at school, I was already intensively involved with wine. I always said that I had a plan A and a plan B. Plan B was cycling. I always dreamed of becoming a professional, but at the same time I worked my way in at home."
But when he found out turning pro was not just a dream anymore, the two-wheeled sport took priority. "Then I swapped the two plans. Now I'm 100 percent dedicated to my career as a professional. But after that, I'll have time to look after the family business." The Sobreros' vineyards are home to a wide variety of grapevines, and Matteo is familiar with them all. His attention to detail is something that also serves him well as a professional cyclist.
After all, his two passions; cycling and wine are not all that different, he explains: "They have a lot in common. You need to be patient. You have to build your season from the winter, both on the road and in the vineyard. It’s not just about the harvest. The same goes for cycling - you need dedication and passion in everything you do, on both fronts. They are really quite similar."
And then there is certainly the influence of Filippo Ganna. "We are really good friends," says Matteo. "We train a lot together, we live close. Also, my girlfriend is his sister, so we are pretty close." The two will have stories to tell eachother after this Saturday when both lineup for Milano-Sanremo. While Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers) falls in the wide range of pre-race favorites, Sobrero will be a key man for his Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe leaders.
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- Yeah, looks slow up there.Jumpyjohn28-03-2025
- lol His aim was well off! MVP was well past him before the guy decided to spit.Cyclingsbestfan28-03-2025
- But you know that’s what makes this website live ;-)Mistermaumau28-03-2025
- I hope he stays upright too and I hope that in this years Paris Roubaix we get a proper good old fashioned man against man race. Can't wait!Cyclingsbestfan28-03-2025
- What can you expect from a guy like that. Probably home now enjoying his pseudo fame before his evening session of paid sex chatting.Mistermaumau28-03-2025
- There is a lot of wisdom in some of our older people and some have the wisdom to use it wisely. Others not so much.......Cyclingsbestfan28-03-2025
- I loved De Vlaeminck back in the day, but I have to agree with him: he probably is a little burned out. I don't see him winning much this year.
Barney28-03-2025 - Tadej is 26 year old, Mr. Sour. And now, as you said, because the money, the cycling is extremely professionalized and competitive: winning is very hard, even for very talented riders.
maria2024202428-03-2025 - How many grand tours did Vlaeminck enter/finish let alone win? This article gives "old man yells at cloud" vibesPedalmasher28-03-2025
- I think Hinault is right: Pogacar is the first rider since he and Merckx who can win such a wide variety of races with such audacity and verve. I hope by the time he is done, Pog is widely acknowledged at the greatest of all time. Unlike Merckx and Hinault who were (probably necessarily in their era) pretty unpleasant characters, Pog is a cool, refreshingly humble guy who routinely thanks his teammates after they've taken their last bleedout pull for the day, gives bottles to little kids in the middle of a solo breakaway, walks around and congratulates his competitors at the finish, win or lose. There will always be those within the peloton and fanbase who resent his success, but he seems genuinely well-liked. He seems like the antidote to past other dominant champions who still inspire bitterness or disappointment. That said, Paris-Roubaix is a race that is both dangerous and requires a lot of specialized experience. I hope he stays upright.Barney28-03-2025