GINO BARTALI ENGLISH

HOME

Cycling is referred not only to Fausto Coppi, but also to Gino Bartali, a brave and honest man. He was an Italian sports manager. Protagonist of races from 1934 till to 1954, he won 3 Italian Tours (1936 – 37 – 46), 2 Tour de France (1938 – 1948)

He had been a great friend of Coppi, but also his rival, he represents along with Fausto a part of Italian story that is existing anymore, nostalgic and enterprising.

He began his profession of cyclist with the society called “Aquile divertenti” (funny eagles) during 1930. In 1935 he participated to the race Milano-Sanremo as an independent. He finished the race in fourth place,

He participated to his first Italian Tour with society Frejus finishing in seventh place. In 1934. He graduated himself as champion of Toscana, winning the 6th edition of “Coppa Bologna”.

In 1936 he ran for Legnano society winning for 3 times and also winning Lombardia Tour. In the same year his brother Giulio died. He participated to an amateur race.

In 1937 was captain in Legnano society. He won his second Italian Tour. He had to retire from Tour de France because of a bad fall during the racing Grenoble-Briançon. But in 1938 he won 7 times.

In 1939 he won the Milano-Sanremo racing but he lost the Tour of Italy, won by Giovanni Valetti. He won again the Milano-Sanremo in 1940. In this year Fausto Coppi began his racings, Bartali enlisted him as a follower. During the Milano-Genova racing Bartali fell because of a dog which crossed the road at that time. Team manager, Eberardo Pavesi, enlisted Fausto Coppi, who was the best cyclist. At the end of the race Bartali was at Coppi’s service, Guerra did the same in 1936.

During the slope to the Alps Coppi wanted to retire himself because of bad legs’ cramps. Bartali was ahead him. He turned back, reaching Coppi, he made Coppi mount his bike again insulting him. Coppi won the Tour of Italy a day before the Second World War.

During 1943 and 1944 Bartali took many of falsified documents in order to make lots Jews escape, more or less 800 people. He hid the documents in bike’s tube, going back and forth from Terontola-Tortona station to Assisi. He had been wanted by police he hid himself to Città di Castello, by friends and relatives.

Both Bartali and Coppi began again bicycle racings in 1945. It seemed that Bartali’s career was finished, but Coppi was a cycling star. Coppi continued to race for Bianchi society. He finished the Tour of Italy at second place, behind Gino Bartali who won the Tour of Switzerland.

In 1947 Bartali couldn’t win the Tour of Italy because of a mechanical breakdown, but he could win Milano-Sanremo racing and the Tour of Switzerland again.

In 1948 Bartali retired from the Tour of Italy for protest toward Fiorenzo Magni, because he pushed Bartali during slopes. Bartali represented Italy during the Tour of France (French people couldn’t suffer Magni). It had been the greatest victory of his career. Nowadays he is remembered by a column for Tour of Alps. Bartali’s victory diverted attention from Palmiro Togliatti’s attempt which risked to start a civil war. Rumors said that De Gasperi and Andreotti asked Bartali to calm the moods. De Gasperi asked Bartali which his prize was to be and he answered that he wanted to pay taxes no more. In this year Bartali and Coppi had been involved in a bad story in Valkenburg. Both began to controlled each other in spite of co-operating together. They had to retire disappointing the fans.

In 1949 he finished the Tour of Italy at second place, behind Coppi. He also decided to help Fausto with the Tour of France.

In 1950 he won Milano-Sanremo under a flood. He was forced to retire himself during the Tour of France because of French fans’ aggression during Col d’Aspin racing.

In 1951, at the age of 38 years, he won his last Italian championship, behind Coppi. In 1953 he won the Tour of Toscana but he risked to lose a leg because of an incident. But after few months he came back to the races with Milano-Sanremo racing. He didn’t win but he had been acclaimed by the people.

In 1954 he participated at Città di Castello racing for the last time. It was the town where he hid himself during war. A circuit for him had been created.

In 1959 Coppi’s career suffered. Bartali, who was his team manager at that time, decided to believe in him again.

Bartali always revealed bad things of cycling, as doping, corruption, and the high contracts.

He died on the 5th of May 2000 for natural causes.

On the 25th of April 2006 President Ciampi gave to beloved Bartali wife, Adriana, a gold medal for civil valor because of Bartali’s contribution to Italy by saving so many human lives.

   The house were Gino Bartali was born (picture by Ettore Timi, available on Wikipedia)

   Florence, Gino Bartali square (picture by Azazelo, available on Wikipedia)

   Gino Bartali, Alassio (picture by Mystère Martin, available on Wikipedia)