[CR]Urago an Italian team?

(Example: Framebuilders:Masi)

Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2006 14:27:23 -0800 (PST)
From: "David Patrick" <patrick-ajdb@sbcglobal.net>
To: CR <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <033701c7069f$e536f7a0$0200a8c0@HPLAPTOP>
Subject: [CR]Urago an Italian team?

A very good friend of mine worked for Gene Portuesi in Detroit during the 1950s and my friend told me that he had spoken to Mr Urago on a few occassions, as Portuesi's shop imported and sold Urago framesets. As told to my friend, Mr. Urago explained that he had gotten into some "trouble" with Mussolini and the Fascists during the 1930s, forcing Urago to flee Italy for France. Perhaps this helps shed some light on Urago's dual citizenship?

Dave Patrick Chelsea, Michigan USA

The Maaslands <TheMaaslands@comcast.net> wrote: Joe gives his source for the information about Urago being an Italian team as follows:

Try this link and all will be revealed: Oh ye of little faith. http://www.dewielersite.net/db2/wielersite/zoekploegvrij2.php

It is always nice to have the opportunity to practice the language of my parents and to read in Dutch. There are 5 riders that the web-site lists as being part of the 'Italian' Urago teams. As you can read in the link provided in my last post, as well as in numerous others, Magnani resided in France in 1935-37 which would clash with the idea that he was supposedly racing for an Italian team. The same goes for Camellini and Roland. For Osvaldo Bailo, this is certainly nothing more than an error as going to the rider page on the same Wielersite, you will see no mention of Urago in his personal page: http://www.dewielersite.net/db2/wielersite/coureurploegfiche.php?coureuri d=513 It should also be pointed out that Bailo was almost cycling royalty in Italy as he was the son of the sister of Costante Girardengo. Lastly, for Roth, while on his personal page it is indeed listed that he raced for Urago, he is also listed as a member of the Wanderer 1936 team http://www.dewielersite.net/db2/wielersite/ploegfiche.php?id=12595 (but this doesn't appear on his personal page) which also corresponds to his 1935 and 1937 team, so logic would seem to point to the fact that the Wielersite has merely made one of its many errors. I have already sent a note similar to this to the Wielersite. It will be interesting to see if they make a change or have any supporting documentation.

Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ
USA