Cino Cinelli Racing Pictures

Cino Cinelli (1916-2001), the founder of the famous Cinelli bicycle company, was a great racer before he started making his famous (and often brilliantly innovative) saddles, frames, hubs, pedals (I think the first practical clipless pedal), stems, bars, etc.

I renewed my acquaintance with his son, Andrea, at the 2001 Milan Bike Show. As we talked, he showed me some pictures from his father's storied racing days. I knew immediately that many visitors to our web site would love to see these pictures from the days of iron men racing on rough roads. Andrea, being the kind and generous person that he is, gave them to me with permission to post them and share them with you.

Mille Grazie, Signor Cinelli!

Cinelli's illustrious racing career included: Giro di Lombardia 1938, and the Bernocchi cup of the same year; Giro dell'appennino 1937; Giro di Campania 1939 (pictured below), and in the same year the Giro d'Italia, after winning the Genova-Pisa stage and spending seven days in the pink jersey. Other successes included the Tre Valli Varesine (pictured below) and the Giro del Piemonte in 1940; the Giro dell'Emilia in 1942, and Milano-Sanremo in 1943. Cino was a brilliant champion on two wheels, distinguishing himself with practice and hard work, not to mention his 24 years as president of the A.C.C.P.I. (association of professional cyclists in Italy).

Giro della Campania, 1939. First place Cino Cinelli (left), 2nd place Gino Bartali (second from left).

Tre Valli Varesine: First Cino Cinelli, 2nd Mario Ricci, 3rd Fausto Coppi.

A madison race at the Vigorelli Velodrome in Milan, 1940. From left: Cino Cinelli, Gino Bartali, and (seated in the rear) Fausto Coppi.