Fiorenzo Magni
“Lion of Flanders”
Fiorenzo Magni, the Lion of Flanders, who was the “third man” of the golden age of Italian cycling, rival of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali, has passed at the age of 91. Magni would have been 92 years old on December 7.
Addio a Fiorenzo Magni!
A cyclist from the golden era and winner of major races unaided by “bought” teams. Rode with pure guts.
Honest and Consistent — The notion that cycling was an escape, first from misery and then from poverty. That it was always better than having to toil in the fields or in factories. Cycling was a hunger as well as abstinence. Adventure and exploration.
Fiorenzo Magni was cycling as he lived and breathed the sport: a rider, a sporting director, a coach.
His cycling was a religion. A mission. A passion. In a word: love. Often thwarted by Bartali and Coppi, Magni did nothing but thank them: he would say that, without those two, he would have been a nobody. They made him a man.
We have lost one more cyclist from an ear that was golden – Honest and Passionate
ERA IL CICLISMO — Fiorenzo Magni era il ciclismo perché lo aveva respirato da corridore, da direttore sportivo, da commissario tecnico, da presidente dei corridori e da presidente della Lega, poi da console onorario, da ambasciatore internazionale, da autorità planetaria. Il supremo organo giudicante: accoglieva tutti, ma sapeva immediatamente individuare trasgressori, usurpatori, traditori. Il suo ciclismo era religione, missione, passione. In una parola: amore. Stretto fra Bartali e Coppi, Magni non ha mai fatto altro che ringraziarli: senza quei due – diceva – non sarei stato nessuno, mi hanno fatto diventare uomo.
Source – English Gazzetta
'He is a Legend Now'
“Ryder Hesjedal in Maglia Rosa”
Two Thumbs up!
Canadian cyclist Ryder Hesjedal has made history and won the Giro d’Italia. He made up the 31 seconds he trailed going into the final stage. He screamed through the streets of Milan to win the three-week race by 16 seconds.
It is being hailed as the most impressive individual accomplishment by a professional Canadian athlete. Ever. Hesjedal becomes the first Canadian man not only to win a Grand Tour, but the first to ever stand on a podium in this event.
It is nothing less than a monumental achievement for a Canadian and Canada. The Victorian’s win is the first by a Canadian in any of cycling’s three marquee Grand Tours.
Source – The Vancouver Province
Hesjedal, shedding a few tears on the podium, said: “For me this is an incredible experience, the joy is overpowering. I began to believe I could do it as the days went by when I saw that my legs were holding up well in the mountains. Even in my head I was calm and I remained serene. I saw that my rivals were beginning to respect me more and more – and in the end, I did it.”
Source – Peloton Magazine
Ryder Hesjedal è stato irriverente e più forte dello Stelvio, del Mortirolo, dell’Alpe di Pampeago, di Cervinia. Alla fine, Milano ha incoronato per la prima volta un canadese (2° americano dopo Andy Hampsten). Il guastafeste nordamericano ha spodestato, al termine della cronometro di oggi, lo spagnolo Joaquin Rodriguez e si è preso con una zampata la maglia rosa. È stato implacabile, nei chilometri che lo separavano dalla piazza del Castello Sforzesco al Duomo, disegnando con precisione chirurgica le traiettorie, tagliando curve e rischiando. Il re del Giro è lui, Hesjedal, ex biker e provetto surfista; non uno scalatore, non ne ha il fisico, ma un uomo forte.
Source – Gazzetta dello Sport
Musei di Biciclette
“Un mondo senza biciclette sarebbe come un sonno senza sogni”
Located in the “village of cycling”, where all streets are named after famous racers, you can find the Historical Bicycle Museum. All bikes on exhibition have a history going back many years. This Museum is named in honour of the cyclist Toni Bevilacqua.
Visit – Museo Storico Della Bicicletta
And in Riva del Garda Trento you can find the Museo di biciclette:
Questa esposizione curata da Farè Pierluigi, appassionato di biciclette, che ormai da più di vent’anni rievoca la storia della bicicletta, è un’incantevole visita che porterà i visitatori a capire e conoscere un mondo che ci appartiene e che purtroppo va via via scomparendo…
Visit – Ciclo Collection
