Fiorenzo Magni

Fiorenzo Magni (; 7 December 1920 – 19 October 2012) was an Italian professional road racing cyclist.

Biography Magni was born to Giuseppe Magni and Giulia Caciolli, and had an elder sister Fiorenza. He started competing in cycling in 1936, in secret from parents. His early successes became known to locals, including his parents, they allowed him to continue.

After the death of his father in December 1937, Magni left school to take over his father's business and provide incomes for the family, yet he continued his cycling workouts.

Magni breaking the world record over 100 km at Velodromo Vigorelli on 7 November 1942.

Shortly before the war in Italy on 10 June 1940, Magni was recruited to serve as a gunner at the 19th Regiment of Florence, although he had requested to become a bersagliere, while being licensed to dispute a race, its battalion was embarked for Albania, but the ship, where he should have been on board, also sank without leaving survivors.

He moved to the Olympic Battalion of Rome where he remained until 1943 when he returned to Florence at the 41st Artillery Regiment. After the armistice of 8 September 1943 he was recalled to serve the newborn Italian Social Republic and, in the Voluntary Military Forces of National Security, he was in charge of the railway control at the side of the carabinieri in Vaiano, his country of birth.

In January 1944 Magni's battalion, together with carabinieri, men of the Muti Legion and the Carita' Band, was involved in a violent confrontation with the local partisans, giving rise to the Battle of Valibona, with deaths on both sides. When Magni arrived the fights were already over, but later on he would be charged with numerous accusations, including the killing of Lanciotto Ballerini, the band leader.

On 5 November 1947 Magni married Liliana Calò; they had two daughters, Tiziana and Beatrice. In 1951, at the peak of his cycling career, Magni started working for Moto Guzzi, and two years later began selling cars with Lancia. Later in 1980 he became an official dealer for Opel and some Asian companies. In the 1980s he was also involved in trading petroleum products with Giorgio Albani.

Magni terminated his business activities in 2009. He died on 19 October 2012 in Monza, near Monticello Brianza, where he had lived since 1975.

Magni excelled at racing in extreme weather conditions, especially in cold, windy, rainy or snowy days. All three of his victories at the Tour of Flanders were in harsh, cold conditions. He rode Tour de France in 1949–53 and wore the yellow jersey at least once.

During the 12th stage of the 1950 Tour de France, while he was wearing the yellow jersey, he was forced to retire from the race (together with all the other Italian riders) by Bartali, captain of the Italian team, who had been threatened and assaulted by some French supporters accusing him of causing Jean Robic's fall. Of the evening that followed Magni said "I had no idea of how serious my condition was, I just knew that I was in a lot of pain but I didn't want to have X-rays that evening". 1st Giro del Piemonte 1947 1st Tre Valli Varesine 9th Overall Giro d'Italia 1948

1st Stage 19 1949 1st Tour of Flanders 1st Giro della Toscana 1st Trofeo Baracchi 6th Overall Tour de France 1st Stage 10 1950 1st Tour of Flanders 1st Trofeo Baracchi 1st Stage 8 Tour de France 6th Overall Giro d'Italia 1st Stage 16 1951

1st Tour of Flanders 1st Giro del Lazio 1st Giro di Romagna 1st Milano–Torino 1st Trofeo Baracchi

7th Overall Tour de France 1st Stage 18 1952 2nd Overall Giro d'Italia 6th Overall Tour de France 1st Stages 6 & 22 1st Rome–Naples–Rome 1953

1st Giro del Piemonte 1st Giro del Veneto Tour de France 1st Stages 9 & 22 1st Sassari–Cagliari 1st Rome–Naples–Rome 9th Overall Giro d'Italia 1st Stage 10, 16 & 21 1954

1st Giro della Toscana 1st Milan–Modena 6th Overall Giro d'Italia 1955

1st Stage 2 Vuelta a España

1st Stages 7, 13 & 15 1st Giro di Romagna 1st Milan–Modena 1956 1st Giro del Piemonte 1st Giro del Lazio 2nd Overall Giro d'Italia

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

+ Legend — Did not compete DNF Did not finish DSQ Disqualified