What’s better than a jar of Nutella? A monster-sized jar of Nutella. And what’s better than a monster-sized jar of Nutella? One that has your own name on it, as proudly displayed here by Dario Cataldo, currently in Spain sporting the azzurro of the Italian national team for the UCI Road World Championships.

 

 

 

The Team Sky rider – and the rest of his team mates with the national squad – was presented with the giant jar of hazelnut chocolate spread by Ferrero, the company that makes Nutella, and which has long been a supporter of Italian cycling, including sponsoring the leader’s jersey at the Giro d’Italia for a number of years through its Estathé brand.

In May 2011, the second stage of that year’s Giro began at Ferrero’s factory in Alba. Piedmont, and was dedicated to the memory of Pietro Ferrero. The 47-year-old heir to the family-owned business of which he was joint managing director had died of a heart attack the previous month while cycling in South Africa.

Nutella is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List. That may change if Cataldo scoffs the jar tonight and pulls off a surprise win in tomorrow’s time trial…