Original Message: ----------------- From: Angel M Garcia wa2vuy@mindspring.com Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2004 08:47:39 -0500 To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Legnano History
"...The turning point comes in 1924, when Fascism was looking for sports heroes and only wanted Italian companies. "
Mussolini was said to be a real enthusiast of cycle racing, lavishing government encouragement on developing it as a true national sport and the Italian cycle industry and ensuring cycle racing continued during the war. A keen sportmans himself who tried everything at least once, one wonders if he did any cycling himself and if so, did he have his own favoured machine or marque? The Fascists were careful to avoid patronising anything the Monarchy favoured so that discounts a Bianchi. The Italian love of cycling was exported to her African colonies as well. I read recently that cycle racing recently returned to Eritrea!
Viva l'Italia!
Peter Kohler Washington DC USA
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