Davide Cassani

Davide Cassani (born 1 January 1961) is a former road cyclist and cycling commentator on Italian television from Italy. He was the manager for the Italy national cycling team.

He was born in Faenza. In 1982, he made his professional debut with Termolan–Galli. In 1986, he moved to Carrera, where he supported figures such as Claudio Chiappucci, Roberto Visentini and Stephen Roche; Cassani later raced for Gewiss–Bianchi, Ariostea, GB-MG and Saeco. He retired in 1996 after being hit by a motorist while in training.

Media work After retiring from cycling, he became a commentator at Italian public broadcaster RAI.

In 2007, he was involved in the withdrawal of Michael Rasmussen from the Tour de France. Cassani claimed to have seen Rasmussen in the Dolomites mountains in Italy, while Rasmussen and Rasmussen's in-laws claimed that he was in Mexico at that time. His comment, coupled with other issues concerning Rasmussen, led to his expulsion from the Rabobank team. The claim was first made a week or so before the controversy exploded — as a routine comment during the Rai Tre afternoon coverage of the Tour. It took the form of a compliment to the athletic dedication of Rasmussen, who has apparently been returning from eight hours of mountain training, so Cassani appears to have had no axe to grind against Rasmussen.

Cassani has also collaborated with Ivan Zazzaroni and Pier Bergonzi to write a biography of Marco Pantani, Pantani. Un eroe tragico (Pantani, a tragic hero).

Major results

1983 2nd Coppa Placci 3rd Giro del Veneto 1984 2nd Overall Tour du Vaucluse 3rd Trofeo Pantalica 5th Gran Premio Città di Camaiore 1985 8th Giro dell'Emilia 1986 3rd Giro del Lazio 7th Giro dell'Emilia 1987 1st Stage 3 Giro d'Italia (TTT) 1988 2nd Giro del Friuli 5th Gran Premio Città di Camaiore 7th Giro dell'Emilia 8th Giro di Lombardia 1989 1st Stage 5 GP Tell 6th Rund um den Henninger Turm 10th Giro dell'Emilia 1990 1st Coppa Bernocchi 1st Giro dell'Emilia 3rd Giro del Lazio 7th Trofeo Laigueglia 9th Gran Premio Città di Camaiore 10th La Flèche Wallonne 10th Milano–Torino 1991 1st Stage 8 Giro d'Italia 1st Coppa Ugo Agostoni 1st Giro dell'Emilia 1st Milano–Torino 1st Trofeo dello Scalatore 3rd Giro del Lazio 1992 1st Giro di Campania 1st Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria 1st Gran Premio Città di Camaiore 2nd Giro dell'Emilia 2nd Grand Prix des Amériques 3rd La Flèche Wallonne 3rd Giro del Veneto 3rd Coppa Placci 3rd Giro di Romagna 3rd Giro di Lombardia 4th Liège–Bastogne–Liège 5th Overall Tirreno–Adriatico 1st Stage 3 6th Milano–Torino 1993 1st Stage 15 Giro d'Italia 1st Coppa Ugo Agostoni 3rd Road race, National Road Championships 3rd GP Industria & Commercio di Prato 5th Tre Valli Varesine 6th Overall Tour of the Basque Country 7th Amstel Gold Race 9th Milan–San Remo 1994

1st Stages 4 & 7 (ITT) 1st Stage 3 Tour de France (TTT) 1st Stage 4 Tour of the Basque Country 3rd Trofeo Matteotti 3rd Giro dell'Emilia 5th Trofeo Laigueglia 6th Giro di Lombardia 8th La Flèche Wallonne 1995 1st Giro dell'Emilia 1st Giro di Romagna 1st Coppa Sabatini 2nd Amstel Gold Race 2nd Coppa Placci 3rd Gran Piemonte 5th Tre Valli Varesine 9th Milano–Torino