There is only one word that comes to mind, (Respect). She is one of the bigger champions of the female cyclists. Well Fabiana has granted me a little time with her to reply to some questions.

Fabiana Luperini, born July 14 1974 in Pontedera Italy, Tuscany region.

At the present time Fabiani has three victories in the Fleche Wallonne.

Speaker: You have changed teams for the year 2006, the Fassa Bortolo?

Faby: Yes, next year, I change the equipment and I go to the Fassa Bortolo.

Speaker: Why this team?

Faby: I chose this team because I have confidence in Fortunato Lacquaniti that already was the athletic director of the Dream Team. At the moment I have won all and I am sure that I am the unique person to re-emerge as the true one "Luperini". We have strong girls on which I can count and before all to be cyclists and true ones.

Speaker: Your objectives for 2006?

Faby: My objectives are the big tours. First the tour, then remains the Italia Giro.

Speaker: Francesca Castrucci that lives also in Tuscan wrote me and said she likes entertainment. And for you?

Faby: Not for the moment, but I will resume true entertainment. I practice all the sports as recreation. Running, Skip rope, Mountain bike, plus aerobics.

Speaker: In 20 years of your career and you have never cheated? You ride a lot of kilometers near your house as encouragement. I talk about your presence, is that important to you?

Faby: With my presence on the courses, I never feel secure with all the problems, but there are always persons that are near very much like me, which helps with the long transfers, and is stimulating.

Speaker: Giovanni, her father, (allows me to call him by his first name), that introduced you to cycling? Do you not have any regrets?

Faby: Yes, it is my father that introduced me to the bicycle. I have no regret and I would remake all that I did with much excitement and a big love for cycling.

Speaker: Even in the difficult moments?

Faby: In the career of a cyclist and in everyday life, it has it's tops and bottoms. I had the luck to win a lot of courses. It is true that the latter years I won less than my biggest succèsses. I continue with the same motivation because I feel again the intègrity, and I feel at the end of my career that I can give and will succeed being again among the better ones.

Speaker: Fabiana carries the shirt of the yellow jersey, with his father Giovanni to Carcassonne, Grande Boucle Feminine 96. Fabiana won effectively so many big courses, 4 Giro's, 3 Tours of France, Fleche Walloone, one Tour de'Aude, yellow jersey. After you have won all these, is it not too difficult to rediscover yourself a little in sucession? Is it something that you accepted with training?

Faby: I never would accept being in retirement, because that I would feel in me the possibility of that I would come back to a very high level.

Speaker: This year 2005, you succeeded, seeing on the TV the Italy Championships. Often I saw you, but it was not sufficent to win?

Faby: I tried to hold on to defend the title, championship jersey, but it was much too flat for me. I will try again for 2006 if the course is fit for me.

Speaker: Then the Giro, you abandoned after 4 days of race. Giovanni your dad said that you were sick?

Faby: Yes, I fell sick, with mononucléose. I discovered it only during the Giro, and it made me feel really flat.

Speaker: You were dénied, but you wanted to do something well?

Faby: Of course I could do nothing against the disease, one cannot fair well, it is necessary just to wait.

Speaker: Fabiana, at the time of the Giro 2000 CLM to Cordignano. What do you think about the new Champion of the World Regina Schleicher?

Faby: Regina is a very big sprinter, and certainly she will know to honor the shirt that she carries. Elle has been growing, and Elle has equally a team able to pilot itself in every occasion.

Speaker: This is a title that does make you dream?

Faby: Surely that is the rainbow in the sky everyone would want. For me, this is the unique shirt that I was not born for, but it is my big dream.

Speaker: What brought you to cycling in your life?

Faby: Cycling taught me to fight and to obtain the victories only with efforts and modesty.

Speaker: Pantanina fights against the time on her shoulders, the shirt of the Yellow jersey, Grande Boucle 2001. What is the future of the feminine cycling?

Faby: I like Trixi Worrack a lot, she is strong in the races, and quick in the races, and also she had the intelligence to integrate a team with more mature girl's. Elle can learn a lot and therefore not to be too loaded with pressure.

Speaker: Outside of the sport, what do you do?

Faby: In my life all the years, I am rather tranquil and I like to go to the music stores, library, and the small matinee, movies with some of my friends that are near me. Also, I have a license To Manage sport, and I would like to finish my studies in the jurisprudence.

Speaker: The end of year and the holidays approaches? Comment on how you will pass the time?

Faby: Usually the festivities, passing them with my family, this year I want to go cross-country skiing. It's a sport that I like and that has been fun for me a lot. I would remain quiet also because I would have resumed my serious training.

Speaker: Last question, Why "Lupa"?

Faby: "Lupa", I do not like really. I prefer "Pantatina" because that it reminds me of a big champion of cycling. "Lupo" comes from our family name but some call me "Lupa". Word that wants to say equally wolf in italian, which is already on her site.

Speaker: A big one "THANK-YOU" to Fabiana for this discussion.

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