Fausto Coppi

ITALY'S GREATEST CHAMPION

Despite his career being interrupted by World War II, Fausto Coppi massed together an astonishing amount of victories, and acquired immortal status in his native Italy in the process. When Coppi died in 1960, Italy had lost its greatest champion. His funeral procession could have been mistaken for a head of state, or even a saint. Thousands lined the streets, many kneeling and kissing the pavement, to bid farewell to their great campionissimo.

Coppi loved racing as much as Italy loved him. In fact, it was that drive to keep going, even as he was well past his prime, that ultimately cost him his life. Having spent several days racing in North Africa during the winter, Coppi returned to Italy with malaria. The Italian was dead the day after he was taken to the hospital.

Becoming the first to equal Alfredo Binda's five victories in the Giro d'Italia, Coppi put himself on a unique level by taking all of the most important Italian races several times. His two wins in the Tour de France were among the Italian's most legendary performances. During his first Tour win, Coppi came back from an 18-minute deficit after pulverizing the field in the race's final week. In 1949, the Italian became the first to win the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same season. Coppi also became the first winner at l'Alpe d'Huez in 1952, decimating the field with a solo break which helped establish his overall winning margin of 28:17. And victory in the classics Paris - Roubaix and Flech - Wallonne confirmed his supremacy. Had World War II not taken away some of his prime years, there is no telling what the Italian might have achieved.

Being a master of cycling's disciplines, Coppi's stylish riding combined an elegant smoothness with magnificent power. He was one of the best climbers of his generation and a brilliant rider against the clock. In 1942, Coppi set a new standard of 45.871 km for the Hour Record.

As his career began to diminish, the Italian found it difficult to give up his racing. Having used stimulants to stay in competition, Coppi's immune system might not have been at its strongest when malaria set in. The champion's condition was fatal by the time doctors were able to diagnose the disease. Today, Coppi's memory is alive and well. Along the course of the Giro d'Italia and Tour of Lombardy, the tifosi still paint his name on the roads to remember their beloved champion, who was certainly one of the greatest cycling champions who ever lived.