‘‘He only sourced [his team jerseys] from the Milanese tailor Vittore Gianni – a trend later adopted by riders such as Jacques Anquetil and Tom Simpson, eager to emulate Coppi’s fastidiousnes.’’
racing in the iconic light-blue kit of the Bianchi team. This shade of blue, referred to as “celeste” (roughly translated as “sky blue”), had been used by the company from its earliest years and is said to derive from an order from their most notable customer. In 1895 the company founder Eduardo Bianchi received a request from the Italian Queen Margherita to supply her with one of his cuttingedge “safety” bicycles. As an act of gratitude and respect, he decided to paint the bicycle in the now famous celestial blue to match the colour of the Queen’s eyes. Regardless of the accuracy of this legend, this shade of blue has been used by the company ever since, and it would be hard to imagine Coppi in the saddle wearing any other colour. Even out of the saddle, Coppi was much admired for his stylish but informal look, which was always underpinned by fine Italian tailoring. His considered approach to clothing extended to his personal team jerseys. He only sourced them from the Milanese tailor Vittore Gianni – a trend later adopted by riders such as Jacques Anquetil and Tom Simpson, eager to emulate Coppi’s fastidiousness. By the 1950s Coppi was enjoying a meteoric rise to the status of national hero, but this was soon marred by affairs in his private life, which resulted in a spectacular fall from grace. 112 THE CYCLING JERSEY
Coppi had unwisely begun an affair with a married woman, Giulia Occhini, after she had approached him for a signed autograph. In 1953 they were photographed together at the Road World Championships in Lugano, Switzerland. The incriminating photograph was published in a French newspaper and caused shockwaves back in Coppi’s deeply Catholic homeland. Both he and Occhini (referred to in the paper simply as “the woman in white”) were both married and at the time adultery was still a criminal offence in Italy. The two received suspended jail sentences after being put on trial. Coppi’s treatment by fans changed overnight. Once lauded, Coppi was now jeered at by some and spat at during races. His rejection by the Italian state seemed complete when he received a personal note from the Pope himself expressing his dismay. Although he and Occhini would subsequently marry and have a child of their own, neither was officially recognized by the Italian authorities. Tragically, just five years later, aged 40 years old, Coppi was dead. He had contracted a fatal form of malaria while completing an exhibition tour in the West African country of Burkina Faso. At his funeral on 5th January 1960 this fallen angel of Italian cycling was finally put to rest and Italy mourned the loss of one of the world’s cycling greats.
[Clockwise, from far left] A poster highlighting Coppi’s legendary achievements. Best of enemies: Coppi and Bartali seen at the Grand Départ of the 1949 Tour de France. A caricature by the great French sports illustrator René Pellos. The famous “celeste” blue with a dash of red from secondary sponsor Faema on this 1978 team jersey. [Overleaf] With Frenchman Louison Bobet at his wheel, passionate spectators cheer on Coppi during a stage in the 1951 Giro passing through the Dolomite mountains.
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