Cecchi, The Giro To Give A Gift To His Children

· 2024-10-21

Sulle strade d’Italia
Ezio Cecchi (1913-1984) participated in 11 editions of the Giro d’Italia. Here, during the 4th stage of May 26, 1950, the Livorno-Genoa.

In ’48, surprisingly, with 3 stages to go he was wearing the pink jersey, but it didn’t finish as he had hoped.
The race was won by Fiorenzo Magni, who took advantage of some “help” on the climb.

It happened in Cortina d’Ampezzo, in 1948. Friday, June 4, at the start of the third-to-last stage of the Giro d’Italia, against all odds, the pink jersey was on the shoulders of Ezio Cecchi, known as Cecchino, a man who didn’t have the elegance of Coppi, nor the strength of Bartali, nor even the cunning of Magni. But that day the symbol of command was on him, he who had to go around the seven churches to find a team at the beginning of the season. Nobody wanted him, he was too old, what could he do at thirty-five years old? By now he was a tired horse. «Cecchino» was hired by Cimatti, more out of pity than confidence. But it didn’t matter to him: the important thing was to be able to race the Giro and earn a few lira to buy a sailor suit for his son and a gold chain for his daughter. This is what Ezio Cecchi, known as «Cecchino», son and grandson of a dynasty of broom makers from Monsummano, in the province of Pistoia, wanted. Three stages to go and the pink jersey to defend. «Cecchino», who knew his limits, studied the route from Cortina to Trento, identified the points where the road rose and those where it levelled out and then you could rest a bit. He did everything he could, but it wasn’t enough. Coppi set off with his round pedal stroke, he left everyone behind and left the others only crumbs. “Okay,” «Cecchino» said to himself, “if I have to lose to Coppi, I’m fine with that: he’s the strongest.” When he reached the finish line, however, after falling and risking his neck, he discovered that the pink jersey didn’t end up on Fausto’s shoulders, but on those of FiorenzoMagni. But how? They dragged him uphill, he let himself be pushed all the way up the mountains, it’s not fair. The jury had noticed those irregularities and punished him, but with a strange penalty mechanism that allowed him to become the first in the rankings. Incredible! «Cecchino» was indignant. And so was Coppi who didn’t even start the next day, packed his bags and went home in protest. In Milan, «Cecchino» arrived 11 seconds behind Magni, but had the satisfaction of hearing the crowd booing the winner. People always know where justice lies.

- Byline Andrea Schianchi
(translated from Italian)