Re: [CR]Cinelli and Coppi and Cirque Cinelli Exhibit

(Example: Production Builders:LeJeune)

From: <themaaslands@comcast.net>
To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org (Classic Rendezvous)
Subject: Re: [CR]Cinelli and Coppi and Cirque Cinelli Exhibit
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 06:15:46 +0000

Mike wrote:
> Now a question - I know of the story how Cino Cinelli designed his first frames
> for Fausto Coppi - but I'm a bit green on this subject. Coppi as I understand
> always rode Bianchi bikes - does anyone know of Coppi's use of Cinelli bikes in
> competition?

Cino Cinelli did not build frames personally and the first frames bearing the Cinelli name were actually built before he even joined his brother Giotto's bike business. It is therefore virtually impossible that there is any truth in the story of his first frame designs being for Coppi. Cino and Coppi did however know each other quite well. I have a copy of a photo from 1940 showing Cino with his teammate Adolfo Leoni riding Bianchi bikes and Coppi with his teammate Gino Bartali riding Legnano bikes at a Vigorelli track event. I also have another photo from what is apparently the first post-war Milan bicycle trade fair in 1953 depicting Coppi speaking with Cino in front of the Cinelli stand. Cino was also the head of the cyclists union, so more than most new framebuilders, he did have access to pitch new ideas to the top riders including Coppi. Coppi did have considerable respect for Cinelli both as a racer and as a businessman.

To the best of my knowledge Cino never sponsored any cycling team and did not believe it necessary to do so to market his bikes. His son, Andrea, who is the one who sent me the photos, also told me that his father's philosophy did not foresee trade team sponsorship. Cinelli did however provide bikes to individual riders and to national team members. Perhaps a Cinelli bike could have been ridden by Coppi at some time but never as his official team bike with Cinelli logos. Coppi rode for the Dopolavoro Tortona for 1938-39 (this was before any Cinelli bikes were made, then for Legnano from 1940 to 1942 (also before any Cinelli bikes were made). From 1943 to early 1945 he did not ride for any team because of the war. For the second half of the 1945 season he rode as an independent. From 1946 to 1955 he rode for Bianchi. Then from 1956 until the end of his life, he rode for the Carpano Coppi team on Coppi branded bikes built by Fiorelli.

--
Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ