Mark, Fausto was well beyond his 'Golden Years' when he suffered the " ill fated mosquito bite" as you term it. World War II mainly (and his affair with Giulia Occhini) denied what cycling history could have been added to an already GREAT rider's achievements. Inept doctors denied the world of a Super- Champion in his twilight years.
My $.02
Matthew Gorski
Belmont Shore, CA
My two cents: Coppi was one of the greatest riders of all time. A
legend.
While George was a monster rider by American Amateur standards, he does
not
have the palmares of the great Coppi. Period. If not for that ill fated
mosquito bite, we will never know what Coppi was capable of. So a bike
George rode to a medal in one event does not equal (in my eyes) any bike of
Coppi's. So in that vein, I think the bike/kit is probably worth in the
four thousand range at most, because it is complete, beautifully restored,
and has beautiful craftsmanship. bTW, who built it?
Just my two cents again,
Mark Rosenberg
San Diego, CA