Categories
History and Legends Giro d'Italia Races

Cima Coppi history (1965-1989)

The Cima Coppi is the summit with the highest altitude reached by cyclists during the Giro d’Italia. It was established in 1965, five years after the death of the “Il Campionissimo” (champion of champions) Fausto Coppi.

Naturally, depending on the altitude profile of the Giro d’Italia, the Cima Coppi changes from year to year. The highest point of Cima Copi in history is Passo dello Stelvio (Stelvio Pass), which is 2758 meters. Passo dello Stelvio has been used in 1972, 1975, 1980, 1994, 2005, 2012, 2014 and 2017 editions of the Giro d’Italia. It was also expected in 1967, 1984, 1988 and 2013 editions, but in each case, the course was modified due to weather conditions.

Categories
History and Legends Giro d'Italia Tour de France

Hemingway’s grimpeurs

Ernest Hemingway (July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was a great fan of sports, most notably bullfighting and fishing. He also followed cycling, particularly the 1920s six-day races in Paris, which – along with horse racing – were among his pastimes chronicled in A Movable Feast (see notes 1).

Categories
History and Legends

Happy 100th birthday, campionissimo

100 year ago today, on September 15, 1919, a campionissimo (champion of champions) was born: Fausto Coppi. He was a cycling icon like no other.

Categories
History and Legends Cycling Records Hour Record

Graeme Obree, Athlete or Genius? (Short Film)

“Graeme Obree, Athlete or Genius?”, is a short film published by the Endura Official channel on YouTube. Endura is a cycling clothing company which was founded in Scotland in 1993. In this short film, they tested the positions invented by Graeme Obree, “The Flying Scotsman”. Using these positions (the “praying mantis” and the “Superman”), Obree broke the Hour Record twice (1993, 1994) and became the 4000 m pursuit World Champion, also twice (1993, 1995).

Categories
History and Legends Races Tour de France

Ottavio Bottecchia arrives in Briançon, Tour de France 1925 Stage 13

July 9, 1925: in this historic photo, the legendary Italian cyclist Ottavio Bottecchia approaches to the finish line at Tour de France 1925 stage 13, a 275 km going from Nice to Briançon. The monster stage had featured three major ascents, all above two thousand meters: Col d’Allos (2,250 m), Col de Vars (2,108 m), and Col d’Izoard (2,360 m).

Fellow Italian Bartolomeo Aymo (sometimes written Bartolomeo Aimo), the Alcyon teammate of Bottecchia’s rival Nicolas Frantz won the stage in 13 hours 5 minutes, and 3 seconds. Bottecchia finished in second at 9 min 57 sec, 3 min 40 sec ahead of Frantz, who finished in third and reinforced his yellow jersey. Bottecchia, who had also won the previous year’s edition and became the first Italian to win the Tour de France, started the 1925 Tour by winning the first stage, then he won 6th and 7th stages, and made his Tour victory complete by also winning the last stage.

Categories
History and Legends Classics Races

Lucien Lesna during the 1901 Paris-Brest-Paris

Today’s historic photo of the day: Lucien Lesna during the 1901 Paris-Brest-Paris, with his support car beside him. I love the heroic era of cycling and the clothing of that era. Lucien Lesna (11 October 1863 – 11 July 1932) was a French racing cyclist. He won 1901 and 1902 editions of Paris-Roubaix.

Categories
History and Legends

Louis Darragon

A medieval knight? No, he is a world champion cyclist. Today was the birthday of the French cyclist Louis Darragon (6 February 1883 – 28 April 1918) who won the UCI Motor-paced World Championships in 1906 and 1907. He also finished the race in second place twice, in 1909 and 1911.

Categories
Special Bicycles Bicycles and Equipment History and Legends

Boutique Bicycle Manufacturers – The Ultimate List (I-J-K)

Here is the list of the boutique bicycle manufacturers, ordered by their name (starting with I, J, and K). If you want to find a unique bike that fits your personality, review this list.

Categories
Special Bicycles Bicycles and Equipment History and Legends

Boutique Bicycle Manufacturers – The Ultimate List (B)

Here is the list of the boutique bicycle manufacturers, ordered by their name (starting with B). If you want to find a unique bike that fits your personality, review this list.

Categories
Cycling Climbs Giro d'Italia History and Legends Races

Monte Zoncolan

One of the most demanding climbs in professional road bicycle racing, Monte Zoncolan is a mountain in the Carnic Alps, located in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. It has been used in the Giro d’Italia six times (2003, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2014, and 2018) and in the Giro Donne (Giro d’Italia Femminile, rebranded in 2013 as the Giro Rosa), once (1997).