Legends of an Empire

“… Not only were they champions (Bartali and Coppi), they were also great men. Why do you think we are still speaking about them? Because they made history. I consider myself lucky because racing with them I could be part of this history. I would have won more without them but it wouldn’t have been during a legendary cycling era.”

– Fiorenzo Magni

Ben introduces me me to the stunning photography of Jered Gruber.  In his shot of a snow-capped Galibier, playing host to the battered peloton as they weave bravely towards the summit; it’s easy to see why the Giro d’Italia is both a beauty and a beast. This is Italy.

There’s a lot to celebrate in the world of Italian cycling this year:  Vincenzo Nibali is donning the Maglia Rosa – the Leader’s Pink Jersey, and is very likely going to win the entire La Corsa Rosa.  If you’ve ever made a double-take when admiring a bicycle, then you’ve probably clocked onto a Campagnolo groupset; now commemorating their 80^th anniversary.  Thanks to ‘Campag’, they have kept wheels turning effortlessly in motion for many happy cyclists.  Sports car manufacturer, Lamborghini are also in the mix; marking their 50^th by producing a racer with the bike people over at BMC.  And with continental teams such as Vini Fantini showing they can compete with the worlds finest, it’s no wonder this year’s Giro is proving to be a success!   So it might be apt that today’s stage, number 19, is now cancelled due to bad, I mean horrendous weather conditions; a timely reprieve perhaps for worn out cyclists, red-jersey contenders, and those with frozen toes.  As for us, this is an excellent opportunity to pause and  examine the people who have made the Giro d’Italia a race worthy to behold.

The Fifth Dimension:  These 3 Cyclists have won the Giro a record 5 times!

Alrfredo Binda – The first ‘superstar’ of the Giro d’Italia and the silent hero of the 1920’and 30’s.  Later Alfredo was to become the trainer to both Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali.  The significance of which is truly remarkable.  To this day, not only do they rank highly on the list of Giro greats, but in the world of cycling as a whole.

Fausto Coppi – Arguably the most celebrated of Grand Tour Champions and national hero of Italian Cycling.  The famous rivalry with his southern counterpart, Gino Bartali, is suspected by some as a great spin, but by many to be the most contested of all cycling conflicts.  The late 40’s saw these Italian gladiators form a winning partnership in the 1949 Tour de France.  Are Wiggins and Froome destined to do the same?  Coppi is fondly described as ‘Il Campionissimo’, the ‘Champion of Champions’

Eddy Merckx – considered to be the greatest pro-cyclist ever, he is also the only non-Italian to wear the Maglia-Rosa a record 5 times.  This and much besides!

Hatricks of the Giro: The ‘Tripletta’

Giovanni Brunero

Giovanni Brunero – His first year as a pro, Giovanni came fifth in the classic Milan San Remo and carried on in his career to secure 3 more Giro’s.

Gino Bartali – Described as the ‘George Best of Italy’, Bartali is also the most renowned Italian Cyclist before WWII.  Gino was a powerfully built rider and proved a worthy champion of the Giro.  At the age of 20 he won the Pink.  At 22, not only did he succeed again, but also secured the podium at the Giro di Lombardia.  Sadly, this was to be overshadowed by the death of his brother through a racing accident, and almost putting an end to Bartali’s career.  He was persuaded to return the following year and it is at this time that Italian cycling was to enter its golden era.  His partnership with Fausto Coppi and Fiorenzo Magni, continues to stir the imagination of people today.

But it is Bartali’s WWII humanitarian efforts that are only now being discovered.  A devout Christian, it was his belief that moved him to be an active helper.  He personally transported counterfeit identity papers and even harboured Jewish families in defiance to Mussolini’s fascists.  On his return to the sport he was unceremoniously named ‘Il Vecchio’ – the ‘Old One’.  Bartali’s double-life had taken its toll on the athlete.  Not only did he appear years older, the rations of the time meant he physically was not the same man.  Moreover, the terror of the controlling regime had consumed Bartali with fear –  secret-police interrogations, threats to him and his family: his wife and young son.  Yet in 1948, Bartali once again took to his bicycle and rode the Pyrenees for Le Tour; amazing everyone bywinning the maillot-jaune.  Some 10 years after his last victory – a record that stands to this day.

Bartali and Coppi sharing a drink, or perhaps not.

Fiorenzo Magni – often described as the ‘Third Man’ of Italian Cycling to Coppi and Bartali.  Fiorenzo not only holds 3 Giro’s between 48-55, but three consecutive wins of the Springs Classics, the Tour of Flanders (49,50, and 51) On his retiring year on stage 12 of the 1956 Giro, having broken his collar bone, Fiorenzo refused to be put in a cast.  Instead he soldiered on.  Just as innovative as our modern day Adam Hansen, Magni famously attached a rubber inner tube to his handlebars and steered it with his teeth in order to race.  On stage 16, Magni crashed on a descent and having passed out from the pain of further breaking his humerus, he was placed in an ambulance.  When he awoke, he shouted and told the driver to stop.  He then took his bike and finished the stage with the awaiting peloton.  Snow and ice On stage 20, caused 60 riders to abandon and cleared the way for Luxembourg’s, Charly Gaul to claw back from 16mins behind and to past the finish line as the winner of the 56’ Giro.  Despite his injuries and the harsh weather conditions, Fiorenzo Magni came second.

Like Alfredo Binda, Fiorenzo Magni mentored two more famous cycling legends.  Only, these two men are renowned for putting Italian bike heritage on the map.  Frame builders, Ernesto Colnago and Faliero Masi both worked under Alfredo’s wing.  The latter of the two credited for the tying the inner-tube to the handle bars. When asked what it was like to ride in this golden era, Fiorenzo responds: “In life, defeats are more likely to happen than wins. Losing to Coppi and Bartali, and therefore congratulating them, is an experience that I am happy to have had and an experience that taught me a lot. I have always admired them for what they could do and esteemed them for who they were. Not only were they champions, they were also great men. Why do you think we are still speaking about them? Because they made history. I consider myself lucky because racing with them I could be part of this history. I would have won more without them but it wouldn’t have been during a legendary cycling era.”

Fiorenzo Magni – navigating with an inner-tube!

Felice Gimondi – racing the Giro with style in 65′, and now being inducted into it’s Hall of Fame in 2013

Felice Gimondi – Known as the ‘Phoenix’, Gimondi is one of only 5 people to have won all 3 Grand Tours: The Giro d’Italia, the Vuelta Espana and the Tour de France – which he achieved on his first year as a pro in 65’.  Felice is familiar to the dizzy heights of the Giro GC, by being present on the podium, no less than 9 times.  Last year saw Eddy Merckx be inducted into the Giro’s Hall of Fame.  This year the Phoenix earned his place. When asked how he felt he responded laughingly:

“I’m deeply moved by this important tribute, even if I have arrived second behind Merckx yet again!”

– Felice Gimondi

If parental influence can have a positive impact on a child’s life, then Felice’s mother may have imparted some of her positivity.  Ms. Gimondi regularly took her son cycling on her daily rounds as a postal courier.  What a good day at the office that would be.

This makes me wonder: did Bernard Hinault instead opt to attend Boxing School?

Badger Power: Never, ever separate a cyclist from his bicycle.  Ever!

Bernard Hinault – Affectionately known as the ‘Badger’, Bernard earned his moniker through his resemblance to a traditional shaving brush when donning a sweatband.  All the same, Bernard was not a man to mess with.  The original ‘Boss of the Peloton’, Hinault commanded respect and cooperation from his peers. Although not a crowd pleaser, he continues to attract a wide fan base.  When asked about his responsibility to his community of fans, he would reply: “I race to win, not to please people”.  In 78’, he was hailed as the next great French Cyclist.  Perhaps in response to this, Bernard set his sights on Le Tour, and won the Vuelta in the same year.  In 79’ he won the tour again.  The following year, Bernard won his first of three Giro’s.  He is still recognised as the outspoken Le Patron of the cycling fraternity.

They said you couldn’t, so you did it anyway…

…Some of the records that keep us coming back for more:

Oldest winner: Firenzo Magni – 35 years young in 55’

Youngest winner: Fausto Coppi – 20 years young in 40’

Fastest winner: Dennis Menchov – 40.31Kph (recently retired)

Most stage wins of the Giro in their career:  42, by Mario Cipollini

Most stage wins in a single Giro campaign: 12, by Alfredo Binda in 27’

Race Leader for the most stages: 21, by Gianni Bugno in 90’

Winning by the narrowest of margins: Fiorenzo Magni – 11 seconds over Ezio Cecchi

For those of you who are still dreaming of cobbles, then the charm of Rome’s very own streets might capture your imagination.

Roundup

Everyone from: village-folk, to classic frame-building mentors; from WWII heroes to early innovators, have all left  their mark on the Giro.  With such colourful lives, it is little wonder that the Leaders Jersey is Rosa!