Andrea Tiberi is one of Italy's best-known professional bikers, one who has tattooed Olympic rings on his calf to remind himself that he really was there, in Rio, when he finished the race in 19th position after beating an older opponent, despite having undergone major surgeryseven months earlier.

And when talking about that period, Andrea Tiberi refers to Hervè Barmasse.

"Hervé, recounting his life as an alpinist, spoke of the 'lowest' and 'highest' moments of his career/life, describing them as '0' moments and '8000' moments. It is clear that for a mountaineer the "8000″ means the roof of the world... just as for an athlete it could be the podiums of the most important competitions. But the philosophy behind this metaphor is that we can also experience '8000' moments by climbing a mountain of 'only' 3,000 metres... because maybe the road we took to get there was so beautiful, difficult, challenging and exciting that once we got to the top, the emotions and satisfaction are equal to those felt by touching the roof of the world. On 21 August 2016, I crossed the finish line of that race in 19th position, which in itself would not make that day a 'great achievement'. However, that day was one of the longest, hardest and most incredible journeys I have ever made. On 21 August 2016 at about 1.30 p.m. (6.30 p.m. here) I was 'on the highest 8000' I had ever climbed. The Olympics for me was this'.