Moto Guzzi Galletto Fausto Coppi bicycle legend World Champion 1952 photo

Description

A superb and rare photo of the famous
Fausto Coppi
, practising behind the magnificent
Moto Guzzi Galletto
in
1952
. It was the year that Coppi won the
Tour de France
and the
Giro d’Italia
. A year later he also would become World Champion.
The
Moto Guzzi Galletto
is the most famous lightweight model that the Guzzi factory ever build. It was initially introduced as a 150cc four stroke model, but after a very small initial production batch the capacity grew to 160cc, followed by a 175cc version and a 192cc version The typical Galletto (= Italian for rooster) combination of a scooter and a motorcycle became as classic as the successes of Coppi…
Angelo
Fausto Coppi
was born in the Italian town of Castellania in the province of Alessandria (Piedmont) in 1919. Nicknamed Il Campionissimo ("the greatest champion") or "The Champion of the Champions", he was one of the most successful and most popular cyclists of all time. He twice won the Tour de France (1949 and 1952), and five times the Giro d'Italia (1940, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953). His first large success was in 1940, winning the Giro d'Italia at the age of
20. In
1942 he set a world hour record (
45.798 km
) which held for 14 years (broken by Jacques Anquetil in 1956). His career was then interrupted by the Second World War. In 1946 he resumed racing and in the following years achieved a series of remarkable successes which would be exceeded only by Eddy Merckx. Twice, 1949 and 1952, Coppi achieved a "double" - winning the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same year (first cyclist to do so). The Campionissimo totalled five victories in the Giro; together with Alfredo Binda and Eddy Merckx he holds the record. His achievements also include ten Classic victories: he won the Giro di Lombardia five times (1946, 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1954) (record), took first place three times in Milan-Sanremo (1946, 1948 and 1949) and once in Paris-Roubaix and La Flèche Wallonne (1950). In addition he was the 1953 World Road Champion.
Coppi's racing days are generally referred to as the beginning of the Golden Years of the Cycle Racing. An important factor is the competition Coppi had with Gino Bartali (who helped win Coppi an appointment as a domestique in his team at the end of the 1939 season, and supported Coppi's 1940 Giro victory after an early crash had robbed Bartali of overall victory). When Bartali and Coppi, probably the greatest Italian cyclists of all time, met one another it was the most famous rivalry of cycle racing history and the enormous Italian fan base (tifosi) divided into camps of the coppiani and the bartaliani.
Coppi's late career was shaped by fate: in 1951 his teammate and younger brother, Serse Coppi, fell in a sprint in the Giro del Piemonte. After returning to his hotel, Serse suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died (a curious parallel with Bartali, who also lost a brother, Giulio, in a 1936 racing accident). Fausto suffered countless bone fractures in the process of his career. At the end of 1959, while on a cycling and game-hunting trip in the African Upper Volta (now known as Burkina Faso), Coppi caught malaria. When the illness broke out after his return to Italy, it was not recognized in time for effective treatment. Coppi died at 40 years in the hospital of Tortona.
This is your rare chance to own this
non period
photo that reflects a very interesting and highly historic piece of Moto Guzzi and cycling history. Therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 8" x 8" (ca. 20 x
20 cm
).
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you buy.   For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files
and board backed envelopes.
We have photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and excellent quality.
After many decades of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club!
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