A few notes on Luigi Casola.
Birthday is 21 July, 1921. He is a native of Busto Arsizio (Varese). Professional from 1946 until 1953 (continued until 1961 as an independent). Raced for: Bustese and Ricci and Bianchi in 1946, Bianchi in 1947, Cinatti in 1948, Benotto in 1949, Atala from 1950 through 1952, Atala and Liviera-Benotto in 1953, and was an independent from 1954 through 1961.
Victories: 1946 Circuito di Cossato 1946 Coppa Virtus Valdossola 1946 Coppa Città di Vigevano 1948 Tappa Viareggio Giro d'Italia (Viareggio stage of the 1948 Giro) 1948 Tappa Roma Giro d'Italia (Rome stage of the 1948 Giro) 1948 Coppa Placci 1949 Milano Torino 1949 Circuito di Alessandria 1949 Tappa Venezia Giro d'Italia (Venice stage of the 1949 Giro) 1950 Circuito di Cantù 1950 Circuito di Castelfranco Veneto 1950 Giro del Veneto 1950 Circuito di Bordighera 1951 Tappa Napoli Giro d'Italia (Naples stage of the 1951 Giro) 1951 Coppa Bernocchi 1952 Circuito di Bologna
Other top placings:
1946 2° Giro di Lombardia
1947 2° Gran Premio Industria e Commercio
1947 3° tappa Cesenatico Giro d'Italia
1950 3° Giro del Lazio
1950 3° tappa Locarno Giro d'Italia
1950 3° tappa Rimini Giro d'Italia
1951 2° tappa Bologna Giro d'Italia
1952 2° tappa Sanremo Giro d'Italia
>
> <A mailto:HREF="mailto:swampmtn@siscom.net>swampmtn@siscom.net</A> wrote:
>
> g.s. BENOTTO
> 85 CASOLA Luigi (Ita)
>
> I had the good fortune to meet Luigi Casola, in either 1977, or 1978, I
> believe. He had come to Boulder, CO, with a Mexican team which was to
ride
> in the Red Zinger Bicycle Classic. The Mexicans were simple, tough, tiny
> guys, in the tradition of the great Columbian climbers of the period -- a
> development team, not the first squad. Casola was the Campagnolo
> agent/importer for Mexico, and the sponsor of the team. I was a
21-year-old
> bike shop owner who loved bikes, but knew little or nothing of classic
> European racing.
>
> Casola brought the team to the shop to have a couple of little items
> serviced, and we wound up doing complete overhauls on six bikes, throwing
out
> many abused, neglected, and generally un-maintained parts. In fact, in
> retrospect, I wonder what the racers must have thought when they got their
> bikes back, as they had been transformed from neglected beaters into
> competent machines. For instance, at least one BB had a broken ball in
it,
> and a couple of the other BB's were bone dry, lubricated only by flakes of
> rust. Heavy pitting of bearing surfaces was typical.
>
> Naturally, we developed a friendly relationship with the team, and with
> Casola. I doubt that we charged much for our work, and I don't think that
we
> charged for parts -- instead, I think that Casola had replacement parts
> shipped to us by Campy. In otherwords, we didn't make a dime on the
deal --
> we did it for the love of the sport, and to participate, if peripherally,
in
> the race. (I also worked, and later managed, Zinger/Coors production, for
> years.)
>
> I had no idea who Casola was/had been, although for years, I've regretted
> never looking him up in Mexico. I did a web search for his name a year or
> two back, and discovered that he had been a pro of some accomplishment.
> Amazing. A pity I didn't have an understanding of that then, but, in
> retrospect, the contribution that we made to that team was much more
> important than any fan worship of an aging ex-racer would have been.
> Regardless, he was a gentleman, and a pleasure to know.
>
> My web searches have produced no current information on Luigi Casola. No
> Campy connection, no business connections, etc. Of course, if I recall
> correctly, he was born in '21. I sure would enjoy tracking him down,
> assuming....
>
> Blather mode <off>
>
> Peter Bridge
> Denver, CO