History
Cars, motorcycles and bicycles. Bianchi's experience is unlimited. Nowadays as well as the past races of champions, the
brand with the royal eagle as its badge belongs to the history of Italy.
Everything started in 1885 in Via Nirone, in Milan, Italy when
Edoardo Bianchi, launched himself into his entrepreneurial adventure, deciding to open a machine shop with the money he had
earned as an apprentice. Italy then was about to experience an industrial boom. Bicycles were in the founder's blood but growth and
popularity came later together with the first vehicles equipped with an engine: first with three wheels, then four and again with two.
In the twenties, Bianchi's production was complete and encompassed cars, motorcycles
and bicycles, all popular and appreciated around the world. Those years were
rich in creativity and innovation. Champions like Costante Girardengo and Gaetano "Tano"
Belloni raced and won in the saddle of a Bianchi bicycle. So did Tazio Nuvolari,
standing out on Bianchi motorcycles. Everywhere, the Celeste jerseys was synonymous
with victory.
Then WWII broke out: in August 1943 the factory buildings in Milan were bombed,
58 years had passed since the start of the factory. In 1946 Edoardo Bianchi passed away at the age of 79, the symbol of the
rebirth was the 125 2T Bianchina motorcycle.
During the following three years, Bianchi came back gradually to normal production
rhythms and as it was before the war, meantime in cycling, the legendary Celeste jersey was on Fausto Coppi's shoulders, the
hero, who conquers all the major races of that time, among which 5 Giro d'Italia, 2 Tour de France, one world championship and
even one time-trial at Vigorelli velodrome in Milan in front of a delirious crowd. Then it was the turn of Felice Gimondi, the 'home'
champion, the first to bring cycling back to the ancient splendour of Coppi's era. Gimondi even won the Tour de France on his debut
(1965). Then continued with the Giro (1967) and the Vuelta (1968), then the Giro again (1969) up to the world triumph in Barcelona in
1973. In between many classic races and again the Giro d'Italia at the end of his career in 1976.
His successor became Moreno
Argentin, winner of several classic races; four Lièges-Bastogne-Lièges, Tour of Flanders and Flèche Wallonne (three times) and
the striped rainbow jersey, the nicest of his victories, won in Colorado Spring.
In more recent times other special wins came
from champions like Gianni Bugno, Mario Cipollini and Marco Pantani, the "Pirate" who in 1998 did the prestigious double win
of the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France on his Bianchi. The latest champion is Danilo Di Luca who, in his debut year on his
Celeste bike, won the first title of ProTour Champion.
