Giancarlo Ferretti

Giancarlo Ferretti (9 August 1941 – 9 August 2026) was an Italian road cyclist and later the manager of the now-disbanded Italian professional road bicycle racing team, Fassa Bortolo, sponsored by the Italian cement company of the same name.

Career

As a manager was a top-ranked team until the 2005 season, during which it was part of the UCI ProTour. Among its former riders was classics specialist Michele Bartoli, super-sprinter Alessandro Petacchi, stage racer Ivan Basso, Juan Antonio Flecha, time trial specialist Fabian Cancellara, and many others.

In pursuit of new sponsorship for the team, Ferretti believed that Sony Ericsson was interested. However, on 14 October 2005, a man claiming to represent proposed new sponsor Sony Ericsson turned out to be an impostor, leaving all staff and riders unemployed.

His strong personality earned him the nickname the Iron Sergeant. He has been criticized by former riders for being too demanding, strict, and commanding. Uniquely in cycling, when he was the manager of Fassa Bortolo he was made an employee of Fassa Bortolo, the company, and earned some respect for it.

Death Ferretti died on 9 August 2026, at the age of 85.

Major results Sources:

1962 5th Overall Tour de l'Avenir 1963 7th Giro dell'Emilia 1964 5th Coppa Sabatini 6th Overall Giro di Sardegna 1965 3rd Tour de Berne 4th Giro di Toscana 10th Corsa Coppi 1966 8th Overall Tour de Suisse 1967 8th Paris–Tours 1968 3rd Overall Volta a Catalunya 5th Coppa Agostoni 7th GP Forli 1969 9th Trofeo Masferrer 1972 1st Trofeo Alcide De Gasperi