Fiorenzo Magni

Fiorenzo Magni was an Italian cyclist who followed in the golden age of Italian cycling, led by Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. A powerful rouleur, with an excellent sprint, Magni was among the most reckless downhillers of all-time. Despite the presence of Coppi and Bartali he won the Giro d’Italia three times, in 1948, 1951, and 1955.

Magni turned professional in 1941 and broke through after the War, notably with three consecutive victories at the Ronde van Vlaanderen in 1949-51, which earned him the nickname “Il leone delle Fiandre.” Magni rode the Tour de France five times, winning seven stages and finishing in the top 10 three times (1949, 1951-52), but never made the final podium. In 1950 he wore the maillot jaune but Bartali decided to withdraw the entire Italian team after a series of accidents at Saint Gaudens.

Magni won three Italian road race titles, winning in 1951 and 1953-54. In addition to his three victories at the Giro, he finished second in 1952 and 1956, the 1956 podium finish coming famously after he broke his clavicle on stage 12 but continued the race. Magni was runner-up at the 1951 World Championship to Ferdi Kubler.

Magni’s other palmarès include three Tour di Piedmonte (1942, 1953, 1956), three Baracchi Trophy (1949, 1950, 1951), two Tour di Toscano (1949, 1954), two Roma-Napoli-Roma (1952-53), two Lazio Tours (1951, 1956), one Milano-Torino (1951), one Tre Valli Varesine (1947), and one Sassari-Cagliari (1953). On the track he set world records over 50 km, 100 km, and 30 miles, all as part of a failed attempt at the hour record, at the Vigorelli Velodrome in Milano in 1942.

After finishing his competitive career, Magni held the position of technical commissioner of the Italian team from 1963-66 and was president of the association of professional cyclists. He was also president of the National Association of Azzurri of Italy from 1985-2000. He received the Knight of the Italian Republic in 1966, and was given the Collare d’Oro in 2004 for sporting merits.

In October 2012, in the CONI Hall of Honor, he made his last public appearance for the presentation of the book Magni. Il terzo uomo (Magni, the third man), the only official biography, written by his friend and cycling commentator Auro Bulbarelli. Magni died of an aneurysm a few days later, at almost 92-years-old, at the San Gerardo Hospital in Monza.

In 2010 the Municipality of Monticello Brianza, Magni’s last residence, set up an exhibition at Villa Greppi entitled The Ninety Years of the Lion. In 2013 the sports hall was renamed in his honor. The pink jersey of the 2013 Giro d’Italia, the first Giro after his death, was dedicated to Fiorenzo Magni, adding his name to the collar. In May 2015, a plaque dedicated to him was included in the Walk of Fame of Italian Sport in Roma, reserved for former Italian athletes who have excelled in the international arena.