Angelo Fausto Coppi Italian road cyclist Date of Birth: 15.09.1919 Country: Italy

Biography of Angelo Fausto Coppi

Angelo Fausto Coppi was born in 1919 in Castellania, Province of Alessandria, Italy. He was one of five children of Domenico Coppi and Angiolina Boveri. Coppi had a weak health and lacked enthusiasm for his studies. After much debate, his parents gave him the double name Angelo Fausto, but he never used the name Angelo, becoming famous worldwide as Fausto Coppi.

As a child, Coppi spent his time skipping school and riding his bicycle. At the age of 13, he dropped out of school and started working in a butcher shop. During this time, his uncle, also named Fausto Coppi, made a fateful gift by giving him money to buy a new bicycle. With this gift, Coppi was able to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional cyclist.

At the age of 15, Coppi participated in his first race and won, solidifying his determination to become a great cyclist. He obtained his license in early 1938, but it took several more years for him to achieve recognition. His first major success came with a victory in the Giro d'Italia, but his celebration was cut short by the outbreak of World War I in Europe.

After the war, Coppi experienced a true triumph, becoming the first cyclist to win both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same year. He achieved this feat twice, in 1949 and 1952. Coppi also won five editions of the Giro di Lombardia, a record he shared with Alfredo Binda and Eddy Merckx. He also won three times at Milan – San Remo. In 1950, he celebrated victory in the Paris–Roubaix and La Flèche Wallonne races. In 1953, Coppi became the world champion.

Coppi was known for his versatility as a cyclist, excelling in climbing, time trials, sprinting, and track cycling. Despite his tall and slender physique, earning him the nickname "The Heron," he had a fragile skeleton and suffered numerous injuries throughout his career.

In 1953, after winning the Giro d'Italia, Coppi won the World Championship in Lugano. This triumph marked the pinnacle of his career and the beginning of the end for the great cyclist. Coppi faced scandals and controversies in his personal life, including a public affair with Giulia Occhini, which caused widespread outrage.

After the scandal, Coppi's career declined, and he lost the support of fans. He also struggled with the loss of his brother, Serse Coppi, in 1951. In 1959, Coppi contracted malaria during a safari and ultimately succumbed to the disease on January 1, 1959, in Tortona, Province of Alessandria. Today, his former home serves as a museum.

Despite the adversities he faced, Coppi was a formidable competitor, winning 118 professional races and 20 amateur races. He was nicknamed "Campionissimo," which translates to "Champion of Champions" in Italian. Coppi was known as a solitary figure, constantly facing opposition both in his sporting career and personal life.