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History and Legends Bicycles and Equipment Races Special Bicycles Tour de France

The first bike to win the Tour de France

The first Tour de France was held in 1903, and the overall winner was Maurice Garin (3 March 1871, Arvier, Aosta Valley, Italy – 19 February 1957, Lens or Haute-Savoie, France). His bicycle, a La Française was the first bike to win the Tour de France.

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History and Legends Cyclists and Teams

The Story of LOOK Mondrian

LOOK Mondrian is the legendary frameset of the French bicycle manufacturer. Its red, blue, and yellow colors (also the logo of the company) were based on the artwork of Piet Mondrian (March 7, 1872 – February 1, 1944), the famous Dutch painter.

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Cycling Books Giro d'Italia History and Legends Races Tour de France

Slaying the Badger: the greatest ever Tour de France (1986)

I finished reading “Maglia Rosa – Triumph and Tragedy at the Giro d’Italia” by Herbie Sykes. Now it’s Tour de France time, and I started to reading “Slaying the Badger” by Richard Moore.

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History and Legends

An interview with Graeme Obree

On April 6, 2013, an interview with Graeme Obree has published in heraldscotland.com by Mark Smith, titled “Graeme Obree smashes the myth of sporting success”.

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History and Legends Giro d'Italia Races

Ponsin, Santisteban, Ravasio and Weylandt – four cyclists who died at the Giro d’Italia

Four cyclists have died during the Giro d’Italia: Orfeo Ponsin (a.k.a. Orfeo Ponzin) (1952), Juan Manuel Santisteban (a.k.a. Juan Manuel Santiesteban) (1976), Emilio Ravasio (1986), and Wouter Weylandt (2011).

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History and Legends Bicycles and Equipment

Campagnolo celebrates its 80th anniversary

On May 22nd, Wednesday, Campagnolo celebrated its 80th anniversary with an event hosted at the headquarters of Vicenza, with attendance of Alfredo Martini, Vittorio Adorni, Jan Janssen, Eddy Merckx, Francesco Moser, Greg Lemond, Miguel Indurain, Alex Zanardi, and Fabrizio Macchi.

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History and Legends Giro d'Italia Races

Giovanni Rossignoli: the hidden winner of two Giri d’Italia

Giovanni Rossignoli was the hidden winner of two Giri d’Italia. He never won the Italian grand tour, but, in fact, he was the fastest finisher – twice.

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History and Legends Races Tour de France

Ferdi is too old… Ferdi hurts too much… (1955 Tour de France)

A very enjoyable story about the legendary Swiss cyclist Ferdi Kübler.

As I wrote before, these days I am reading William Fotheringham’s  “Put Me Back On My Bike – In search of Tom Simpson”. Like all books of Fotheringham, it is a great book.

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Hors Catégorie History and Legends Olympic Games Races

British Media and Cycling

These days I am reading “Put Me Back On My Bike – In search of Tom Simpson by William Fotheringham. This is my third Fotheringham book, after “Fallen Angel: The Passion of Fausto Coppi” and “Merckx: Half Man, Half Bike”.

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Cycling and Music, Cinema, Art History and Legends

Ciao Fausto

“Ciao Fausto”: Goodbye Fausto, a very beautiful song by Italian singer and songwriter Mario Gualtieri.