2023-05-05 10:00:00
The 62-year-old former cyclist, Acacio Da Silva, who has dual Luxembourg and Portuguese nationality, notably won five stages of the Giro during his beautiful and long career. He also wore the pink jersey for two days in 1989.
Your greatest victory?
Acacio Da Silva: My five victories in the Giro and even my three victories in the Tour de France. I find them all beautiful, even if the first is always the most beautiful (he’s laughing). But if I have to remember one, I would remember my success in the Giro (Editor’s note: on May 25, 1985, he had won the 8e stage, between Foggia and Matera, ahead of the Belgian Frank Hoste and the Italian Pierino Gavazzi). I had waited for this success. My first Giro was in 1982, the year Bernard Hinault won. When I discovered the Giro d’Italia, I understood what it meant to be a pro. I thought it was going fast. This first success in Matera gave me the taste for my other victories. I must add my success in the Tour (July 4, 1987 in Stuttgart, where he won ahead of the Swiss Erich Mächler). A stage in the Tour always marks. The following year, I beat (Steven) Rooks at Évreux and (Sean) Kelly finished third.
The strongest runner you’ve raced against?
I found all the champions very strong, but I was impressed by Bernard Hinault. He was a boss in the peloton. When he had something to say, he didn’t hesitate. All the runners respected him. Well, riders like (Francesco) Moser or (Giuseppe) Saronni were also respected. Today, we don’t see that anymore, it’s every man for himself, we hide. It’s another cycle. Compared to before, something is missing. In our time, we did not receive instructions by earpiece and we ran more by instinct, whereas today, sports directors, who stay in their cars, direct almost everything.
The racer you didn’t like to race against?
Frankly, I don’t remember. I think I was well seen by the whole peloton and there were no riders that I didn’t like.
Your best bike?
Among professionals, in our time, there was not a great choice. So as long as they worked well and the settings were right, then we were fine. I was from the days of steel frames. Columbus tubes. At Kas, in Jean de Gribaldy’s team, we started to have Vitus bikes with the three main tubes of the frame in carbon, the fork and the seatstays in aluminium. It was lighter, but the tubes tended to come apart. It just got better after that. I had also had a very good bike from Carrera.
(About a Spaniard on a Tour stage) The fifth time I knew he was behind me and I kicked him on the brakes. He almost broke his ass!
Your biggest argument on a bike?
With a Spaniard from the CLAS team on the Tour de France, in Pau. I attacked once, twice, three times and four times. And each time he would come back for me. Always the same. The fifth time, I knew he was behind me and I kicked him on the brakes. He almost broke his ass! After the finish, he was angry as hell and we had a strong explanation. Without coming to blows, either. I never heard of it again.
The lost runner you would like to see again?
I’m still in touch with Sean Kelly. I’m always happy to see riders from my time, but the Mexican Raul Alcala, I would like to see him again. Well, I saw him once again, during the world championships in Louvain (2021). It gave me great pleasure.
Your biggest party?
It wasn’t in the race, but when I was retired, in Beaujolais. A three-day party with all the former champions… Friday, Saturday, Sunday! Almost non-stop…
A transfer that could have been done?
I was in advanced contact with the Banesto team, where Miguel Indurain was leader. The managers at the time were looking for a Portuguese rider, but a younger rider than me, when I was already 28-29 years old. They took Orlando Rodrigues. It’s true that I would have liked to run in this team.
Jean de Gribaldy did everything to put his riders in the best possible conditions and even paid for a private plane to join the races.
Your hardest day on a bike?
I remember a stage in the Dolomites on the Giro where there was snow on the sides. It was cold and it was humid. We climbed the Pordoi and the finish was in Val Gardena. It was only a hassle of 200 kilometers. When I think about it…
Your best sports director?
Dino Zandegù (his sporting director at Malvor-Sidi). It was the best, we still talk to each other sometimes. He always managed to cheer you up. Well, I also have very good memories of Jean de Gribaldy (his manager at Kas). With Sean Kelly, we had a great team. He did everything to put his riders in the best possible conditions and even paid for us a private plane to join the races.
The instruction of a sports director that you did not understand?
In a Pyrenean stage of the Tour de France, I remember that Christian Rumeau, who was our sports director at Kas, asked us to ride while a leader, maybe Laurent Fignon or Greg Lemond, I don’t remember more very well, had just burst. It had gone so fast. I know I didn’t understand why I was rolling. At Carrera, I also had a problem on one or the other stage when I was in front and Claudio Chiappucci (Editor’s note: who wore the same colors) behind. I was asked not to ride anymore…
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