In Italy, cycling isn’t just a sport — it’s a religion. From the winding Alpine passes to the dusty roads of the Strade Bianche, the race lives everywhere.
Italy has produced champions who didn’t just win races, but wrote legends. They faced mountains, rain, and rivals with a mix of flair, strategy, and at times, sheer stubbornness.
Here are the 10 most legendary Italian cyclists of all time. Not just for their palmarès, but for what they meant to millions of tifosi.
1. Fausto Coppi
Nickname: Il Campionissimo
Active: 1939–1959
Main victories: 2× Tour de France (1949, 1952), 5× Giro d’Italia, World Champion 1953
Fausto Coppi is more than a cyclist — he’s a myth. His duels with Gino Bartali divided Italy in the 1940s and ’50s. Coppi was an elegant climber, a solo artist, and a pioneer in training and nutrition.
His life ended tragically early, but his name lives on atop every Italian mountain pass.
2. Gino Bartali
Nickname: Gino il Pio (“The Pious”)
Active: 1935–1954
Main victories: 2× Tour de France (1938, 1948), 3× Giro d’Italia
The great rival of Coppi — rustic, devout, and stubborn. Bartali won the Tour in 1938, and again ten years later, offering post-war Italy a much-needed boost of hope.
During WWII, he saved hundreds of Jews by smuggling documents inside his bicycle frame. A hero both on and off the bike.
3. Marco Pantani
Nickname: Il Pirata
Active: 1992–2004
Main victories: Giro d’Italia & Tour de France in 1998
Pantani was the last great romantic climber. Small, bald, explosive — when he attacked on Alpe d’Huez or the Mortirolo, he left everyone behind.
His tragic fall due to doping and depression made him a martyr for many, but his legendary style remains unmatched.
4. Felice Gimondi
Nickname: The eternal second (behind Merckx — but what a second!)
Active: 1965–1979
Main victories: Tour de France (1965), 3× Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España (1968)
Gimondi was an all-rounder who found success in every Grand Tour. The fact that he still managed to win during the Merckx era speaks volumes about his class.
A true gentleman on the bike, with a modest but effective style.
5. Vincenzo Nibali
Nickname: The Shark of Messina
Active: 2005–2022
Main victories: Tour de France (2014), 2× Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España (2010)
One of the few riders to win all three Grand Tours. Nibali wasn’t a specialist — he could do it all: climb, time trial, descend, and read a race.
His solo on the Tourmalet in 2014 was pure class. And his descent in the 2016 Giro? Legendary.
6. Francesco Moser
Nickname: Lo Sceriffo (“The Sheriff”)
Active: 1973–1988
Main victories: Giro d’Italia (1984), Paris-Roubaix (3×), World Champion (1977)
Moser was a powerhouse: big, strong, and relentless on the cobblestones. He broke Merckx’s hour record and won on both road and track.
Rarely elegant, always effective. His style was bold — his achievements impressive.
7. Gianni Bugno
Active: 1985–1998
Main victories: 2× World Champion (1991, 1992), Giro d’Italia (1990), Milan–San Remo (1990)
Bugno was a stylish all-rounder with flawless pedal stroke. In 1990, he led the Giro from start to finish — a rarity in modern cycling.
He fought great battles with Indurain and remained beloved for both his humility and beauty on the bike.
8. Giuseppe Saronni
Nickname: Beppe
Active: 1977–1990
Main victories: World Champion (1982), 2× Giro d’Italia, Tour of Lombardy (1979)
Saronni was Moser’s great rival. Where Moser brought brute strength, Saronni brought grace. His attack at the 1982 World Championships in Goodwood was one of the finest finishes ever seen.
Small in stature, grand in style and substance.
9. Ottavio Bottecchia
Nickname: Il Pirata dell’Arno
Active: 1922–1929
Main victories: Tour de France (1924, 1925)
The first Italian to win the Tour de France — paving the way for Coppi, Bartali, and all the Italian legends who followed.
10. Fiorenzo Magni
Nickname: Il Leone delle Fiandre (“The Lion of Flanders”)
Active: 1941–1960
Main victories: Giro d’Italia (1948, 1951, 1955)
Magni was the first rider to win three consecutive Giri, showing unshakable strength in harsh conditions.
Italian cyclists are more than winners — they are characters. They don’t just race to win, they race to conquer. With courage, drama, beauty — and sometimes tragedy.
From Coppi to Nibali, every generation had its hero. And if you’ve ever seen a flag-waving fan screaming on the slopes of the Stelvio or Zoncolan, you know: Italy lives for the race.
