Molteni
Encyclopedia
Molteni was an Italian
professional road bicycle racing
team
from 1958 until the end of 1976. It won 663 races, many of them earned by its most famous rider, Eddy Merckx
. Other riders included Gianni Motta
and Marino Basso
, who contributed 48 and 34 wins respectively. The Molteni family continues in cycling with sponsorship of Salmilano.
Molteni is also the name of a company that has manufactured commercial and residential stoves in the same small town in France since 1923
, Giorgio Albani, finished his career with Molteni in 1959 and came back two years later as directeur sportif
. The team had success with Gianni Motta
in the 1966 Giro d'Italia
and Michele Dancelli
in the classics. Merckx joined at the end of 1970, having twice won the Tour de France
and two editions of the Giro d'Italia
. Molteni became predominantly Belgian and took many of Merckx's teammates from Faemino, including his directeur sportif
, Guillaume Driessens. Albani replaced Driessens and directed the team with Robert Lelangue during from 1972 to 1976. Other directeur sportifs included Marino Fontana. After 1976 Molteni retired from the peloton.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
professional road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
team
Cycling team
A cycling team is a group of cyclists who join a team or are acquired and train together to compete in bicycle races whether recreational or professional - and the supporting personnel...
from 1958 until the end of 1976. It won 663 races, many of them earned by its most famous rider, Eddy Merckx
Eddy Merckx
Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
. Other riders included Gianni Motta
Gianni Motta
Gianni Motta is an Italian former bicycle racer who won the 1966 Giro d'Italia .Gianni Motta was born at Cassano d'Adda...
and Marino Basso
Marino Basso
Marino Basso is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist, who won the World Cycling Championship in 1972.Basso was born at Rettorgole di Caldogno, in the Veneto...
, who contributed 48 and 34 wins respectively. The Molteni family continues in cycling with sponsorship of Salmilano.
Molteni is also the name of a company that has manufactured commercial and residential stoves in the same small town in France since 1923
History
The Molteni team began in 1958 with Renato Molteni as team manager. It was started by Pietro Molteni. The team was also managed by his son, Ambrogio Molteni, a former professional rider. The former Italian road championItalian National Road Race Championship
The Italian National Road Race Championships are held annually. They are a cycling race which decides the Italian cycling champion in the road racing discipline, across several categories of rider. The event was first held in 1906 and was won by Giovanni Cuniolo. At the beginning there were often...
, Giorgio Albani, finished his career with Molteni in 1959 and came back two years later as directeur sportif
Directeur sportif
A directeur sportif is a person directing a cycling team during a road bicycle racing event...
. The team had success with Gianni Motta
Gianni Motta
Gianni Motta is an Italian former bicycle racer who won the 1966 Giro d'Italia .Gianni Motta was born at Cassano d'Adda...
in the 1966 Giro d'Italia
1966 Giro d'Italia
The 1966 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 49th edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 18 May to 8 June 1966. It consisted of 22 stages and was won by Gianni Motta.The points classification was introduced in this edition.- Final classment:...
and Michele Dancelli
Michele Dancelli
Michele Dancelli is an Italian former road racing cyclist. He was born in Castenedolo, Lombardy.-Professional career:His main victories include one Milan – San Remo , the 1966 Flèche Wallonne, three editions of the Giro dell'Appennino , two Trofeo Laigueglia...
in the classics. Merckx joined at the end of 1970, having twice won the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
and two editions of the Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
. Molteni became predominantly Belgian and took many of Merckx's teammates from Faemino, including his directeur sportif
Directeur sportif
A directeur sportif is a person directing a cycling team during a road bicycle racing event...
, Guillaume Driessens. Albani replaced Driessens and directed the team with Robert Lelangue during from 1972 to 1976. Other directeur sportifs included Marino Fontana. After 1976 Molteni retired from the peloton.
Famous Molteni cyclists
- Rudi AltigRudi AltigRudi Altig is a former professional track and road racing cyclist who won the 1962 Vuelta a España and the world championship in 1966. He is now a television commentator.-Amateur career:...
- Peter PostPeter PostPeter Post was a Dutch professional cyclist whose career lasted from 1956 to 1972. Post competed in road and track racing. As a rider he is best remembered for Six-day racing, having competed in 155 races and won 65. Because of this success he was known as “De Keizer van de Zesdaagse” or “The...
- Franco BalmamionFranco BalmamionFranco Balmamion , is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist who raced between 1960 and 1972.Balmamion was born in Nole...
- Michele DancelliMichele DancelliMichele Dancelli is an Italian former road racing cyclist. He was born in Castenedolo, Lombardy.-Professional career:His main victories include one Milan – San Remo , the 1966 Flèche Wallonne, three editions of the Giro dell'Appennino , two Trofeo Laigueglia...
- Gianni MottaGianni MottaGianni Motta is an Italian former bicycle racer who won the 1966 Giro d'Italia .Gianni Motta was born at Cassano d'Adda...
- Marino BassoMarino BassoMarino Basso is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist, who won the World Cycling Championship in 1972.Basso was born at Rettorgole di Caldogno, in the Veneto...
- Eddy MerckxEddy MerckxEdouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
- Herman van SpringelHerman Van SpringelHerman van Springel is a Belgian former road racing cyclist, from Grobbendonk, in the Flemish Campine or Kempen region.He was an accomplished time-trial rider, almost winning the Tour de France in 1968, when he was beaten in the last stage by Dutchman, Jan Janssen in a time-trial...
- Roger Swerts
- Joseph BruyèreJoseph BruyèreJoseph Bruyere or Bruyère is a former Belgian cyclist.- Major wins :1969197119721974- Tour de France :*1970 - 50st*1971 - 60st*1972 - 26st; winner of 19th stage*1974 - 21st...
Important victories (incomplete)
- Tour de FranceTour de FranceThe Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
General ClassificationGeneral ClassificationThe general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
1971, 1972, 1974 (MerckxEddy MerckxEdouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
) - Giro d'ItaliaGiro d'ItaliaThe Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
General ClassificationGeneral ClassificationThe general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
1966 (MottaGianni MottaGianni Motta is an Italian former bicycle racer who won the 1966 Giro d'Italia .Gianni Motta was born at Cassano d'Adda...
), 1972, 1973, 1974 (MerckxEddy MerckxEdouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
) - Vuelta a EspañaVuelta a EspañaThe Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
General ClassificationGeneral ClassificationThe general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
1973 (MerckxEddy MerckxEdouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
) World Championships road race 1966 (Rudi AltigRudi AltigRudi Altig is a former professional track and road racing cyclist who won the 1962 Vuelta a España and the world championship in 1966. He is now a television commentator.-Amateur career:...
) 1971 and 1974 (MerckxEddy MerckxEdouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
) - Giro di Lombardia 1964, 1971, 1972 road race championships 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 road race championships 1968, 1969, 1970 road race championships 1971
- Trofeo Baracchi 1964, 1972
- Tour de RomandieTour de RomandieThe Tour de Romandie is a stage race which is part of the UCI World Tour. It runs in the Romandie region, in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. It began in 1947, to coincide with the 50-year anniversary of Swiss Cycling....
General ClassificationGeneral ClassificationThe general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
1966 - Tour de SuisseTour de SuisseThe Tour de Suisse is a UCI World Tour stage race held annually in June. The race debuted in 1933 and has evolved in timing, duration and sponsorship. With the Critérium du Dauphiné, it is a proving ground for the Tour de France, and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
General ClassificationGeneral ClassificationThe general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
1967, 1974 - Tour de LuxembourgTour de LuxembourgTour de Luxembourg is an annual stage race in professional road bicycle racing held in Luxembourg. The Tour de Luxembourg is classified as a 2.HC, the highest rating below the ProTour, by the Union Cycliste Internationale , the sport's governing body. In 2006, the Tour was part of the UCI Europe...
General ClassificationGeneral ClassificationThe general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
1968, 1969, 1970 - Paris–Luxembourg General ClassificationGeneral ClassificationThe general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
1968 - Milan – San Remo 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976
- Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré General ClassificationGeneral ClassificationThe general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
1971 - Liège–Bastogne–Liège 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976
- Omloop Het Volk 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975
- Rund um den Henninger-Turm 1971
- Tour of BelgiumTour of BelgiumThe Tour of Belgium is a four-day bicycle race which is held annually in Belgium.It was held annually between 1908 and 1981, except during both world wars. Between 1982 and 1990 several of races were not organised and none at all during the decade 1991 to 2001...
General ClassificationGeneral ClassificationThe general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
1971, 1972 - Grand Prix des NationsGrand Prix des NationsThe Grand Prix des Nations was an individual time trial for professional racing cyclists. Held annually in France, it was instituted in 1932 and often regarded as the unofficial time trial championship of the world and as a Classic cycle race. The race was the idea of a Parisian newspaper editor...
1972, 1973 - E3 Prijs VlaanderenE3 Prijs VlaanderenThe E3 Harelbeke is an annual cycling race in the Flanders area of Belgium. The race starts and finishes in Harelbeke over 210 kilometres. The event is organised by the Hand in Hand Cycling Club of Harelbeke and is ranked 1.HC on the UCI Continental calendar....
1973 - Amstel Gold RaceAmstel Gold RaceThe Amstel Gold Race is a road bicycle race held in the southern part of the province of Limburg, Netherlands. Since 1989 it has been among the races included in season long rankings tables, as part of the UCI Road World Cup , the UCI ProTour , UCI World Ranking and from 2011 the UCI World Tour...
1973, 1975 (MerckxEddy MerckxEdouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
) - Gent–Wevelgem 1973
- Paris–Brussels 1973
- Paris–Roubaix 1973
- Ronde van Vlaanderen 1975