He discovered America and is now ready to discover himself and his family. However, Alessandro Bazzana, the man of breakaways, still has a hope that Chris Horner will announce his retirement. "Yes, that's right: if Horner ends his career, I have good chances to sign with Airgas Safeway, otherwise amen, I will have to find a job."

Alessandro Bazzana is 31 years old, has a Polish wife (Anna) whom he has known since 2006 and two children. "Look, not everything has a silver lining,” he tells tuttobiciweb.it from Bergamo Cene. “I'm used to have positive thoughts and always see the glass as being half full. It is true that I can still ride and I also think that I deserve it, but I do not make ant drama. It will mean that I will have more time with my family and I will enjoy my kids and my wife. After many years as a migrant, it is time to go home. And in any case I consider myself a lucky man: I did what I loved most for more than twenty years and now, after nine years as a professional and one win (a stage of the Tour of Austria, ed.), I am ready to use what I've learned. In Australiam it was fine (he rode for successfulliving and for Fly V Australia, ed.), in America it was even better: small teams but serious and organized. I made good money and I have always been paid on time. When I hear some stories of colleagues who ride in Italym I have been privileged. Type 1 was a wonderful experience, but I also felt very well at UnitedHealthcare. They will change the project and everyone has to find his place. I had half a promise from this American team, but I fear that Horner will continue to ride and then I will look forward.

"I see myself in the world of cycling. I have a dear friend, let's say my mentor, Marco Pinotti. He is close to a very good components company but until I sign, I cannot say anything. I'm confident.”

In the 2012 Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Bazzana was on the attack from km 30 to km 230. In the final, he was with Dario Cataldo, but when the going got tough, he was brought back and finished 84th. "I also finished the 2014 Sanremo 2014 in 96th. And Roubaix twice: 127th in 2014 and 55th in 2015. I'm just sorry to be dropped in Lombardy this year and not being able to finish it.”

Bazzana has spent his career in foreign teams but has also reached out to Italian squads.

"I spoke with [Androni manager] Gianni Savio who was gracious as always, a real gentleman, but he had already finished his recruitment,” he said. “And Francesco Pelosi, team manager of Nippo-Vini Fantini, already had a full team. But I do not want to complain: I am happy with what I did in cycling, I do not blame anyone. Of course, I dreamed of another kind of career, I dreamed of many good races, but in life you have to have the strength to accept what you have. I do not feel like a loser but like a winner because I realized the dream I had as a child and now I will probably continue my path in life thanks to what I learned during these years. I was an emigrant, but for me it is an added value. I was the game, I learned English, now I'm ready for a new challenge: to become a better husband than I am and be a good father. These are also important goals. These are challenges that fill your heart and are gratifying.”