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The following rules apply to the use of this site: Terms of Use and Privacy / Cookie Statement | Privacy settings Rossano Veneto might just have one of the most mundane of anywhere: ‘Is a town in the province of Vicenza Strade Regionali number 245 does indeed run through the middle of Rossano helping to connect the town to its bigger brother to the north But what the entry misses is the surprising number of highly successful companies this 8,000-strong community hosts ‘Our grandfather bought the Wilier name in 1969,’ says Andrea Gastaldello who runs the company with brothers Enrico and Michele ‘Before then Wilier was located in Bassano The fortunes of Wilier have waxed and waned over the years but its 113-year heritage makes it one of the elder statesmen of cycling Andrea Gastaldello talks us through some of the pivotal bicycles from Wilier’s past ‘This is the oldest bike we have,’ says Gastaldello ‘It was one of the first Ramato-coloured bikes (the traditional colour of Wilier) although the colour has faded through time and weather A private owner had the bike in his home and 10 years ago we bought it from him for €5,000 which is probably a lot more than it cost when it was made in the 1940s But it is a very important part of our history having been ridden by Fiorenzo Magni when he won the Giro d’Italia in 1948 Seventy years on, Magni is still one of Wilier’s most celebrated riders. Despite being unlucky enough to race in the era of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali the Tuscan would add two more Giro titles to his palmarès in 1951 and 1955 plus three back-to-back Tour of Flanders titles Magni is also the subject of one of cycling’s most iconic images a photo of him riding hunched over and steely-eyed while biting down on an inner tube attached to his stem in order to help him balance having crashed and broken his collarbone on Stage 12 of the 1956 Giro The Lion lived up to his billing and rode the next ten stages broken-boned Unfortunately we had to close the team in 1952 Money had become a problem as Italians increasingly turned to motos and scooters for transport.’ It’s interesting to note that in response to this industry-wide problem Magni helped bring the first non-cycling related sponsor into the sport in 1954 to secure funding for his cash-strapped Ganna-Ursus team ‘A big step forward for us was sponsoring Mercatone Uno which was a team built around Marco Pantani for the 1997 season,’ says Gastaldello At the start Pantani had a very good time with Carrera [Carrera Jeans-Vagabond 1992-1996] but in 1995 he had a terrible crash involving a car at Milano-Torino and broke his leg in two places No one was sure if he would ever race competitively again We had to trust that he would come back a champion ‘The team was hit by bad luck from the beginning Marco hit a black cat that ran into the road in the 1997 Giro and had to retire which was frustrating as he was competitive But he came back in a good way for the Tour de France and had a good season ‘But at the end of 1997 we lost sponsorship to Bianchi a much larger company than us that offered more money to sponsor the team We were already providing 70 bikes a year plus extra money ‘The opportunity came back to sponsor Mercatone Uno in 2002 and this is a time-trial bike we made for Marco the wheels are branded “Eolic” by Selle Italia but really that’s just stickers on another company’s wheels Although Mercatone was traditionally yellow we had to make the bike and jerseys blue for the Tour because of course the leader rides in yellow ‘Sadly by 2002 Pantani already had problems with drugs so was not competitive in the races We spent only one season with the team then we had to stop like the Italian Ikea – went bankrupt only a few months ago.’ ‘Our company was started in 1906 by Mr Dal Molin in Bassano del Grappa ‘In Bassano in the 1940s and 50s we had 150 employees Then the company went bankrupt – by the 1960s everyone was buying scooters – and in 1969 my grandfather decided to buy the name of the company and to start a bike shop and start making bikes again in our village then in 1988 and 1990 my brothers arrived and my uncle and father decided to split up and this was the bike that celebrated our 100th anniversary our first monocoque carbon road bike for teams and for customers ‘This is Damiano Cunego’s Cento from the 2006 season when he won the white jersey for young riders at the Tour de France He also won Amstel Gold [2008] and Giro di Lombardia [2007 2008] with us on the Lampre team we sponsored Here we have symbols on the top tube to represent the guy: he has a family with a child; he was born in 1981; 1.69m tall; weight 59kg – it is always good to have your racing weight painted on your bike Resting heart rate of 42; first place in the Giro d’Italia in 2004; he likes ice hockey.’ but here is what the Ramato colour would have looked like when new,’ says Gastaldello This special finish was discovered in the 1940s when the company was still in Bassano It is a chemical treatment of the chromed steel beneath it ‘This bike would have been made here in Rossano and painted by the same external contractor we use today – we still have Ramato colours on our carbon frames ‘This bike was not ridden by anyone famous but it is an important part of our collection because it shows the colour that became a symbol of both the racing team and the company We still make a replica version of this bike for collectors looking for something different and beautiful.’ is made in Italy (albeit by a contractor) and Yet no matter how beautiful modern Campagnolo groupsets are they pale in comparison to the 50th Anniversary gruppo featured here titanium parts and founder Tulio Campagnolo’s signature engraved on every part with the first kept by Campagnolo and the second presented to Pope John Paul II from an era when Wilier’s compatriots still did a roaring trade in cast lugs which the company would sell to other manufacturers as well as use for its own bikes Made from Easton Elite Taperwall 7005-series aluminium, some of the most advanced aluminium alloy of its day, this bike may well have been one of the lightest on the 1997 Tour de France start line. By the time Marco Pantani reached the top of Alpe d’Huez on Stage 13 ‘Marco climbed Alpe d’Huez in 37 minutes and 35 seconds which is still the record for the climb,’ says Gastaldello a big boost to our growth in international markets because everyone was watching this stage and this guy and looking at this bike The frame weighed 1,200g and was one of the first TIG-welded frames – before us was only Cannondale.’ Pantani fans will recognise the Il Pirata cartoon on the frame and custom-embroidered on the saddle but there are other subtle touches specific to the Italian climber an analogue indicator set in-line of the cable housing displayed gear selection using cable movement to push a needle visible through a plastic window a bit like a pressure gauge ‘For a while Selle Italia made special lightweight wheels in collaboration with a company called ACI that makes spokes and hubs so thin they would break under heavier riders but these wheels were under 1,500g and had 32 spokes each.’ they made these kind of bikes for children or really for parents who were passionate cyclists ‘This came to us from a collector in Switzerland who contacted me around five years ago to say did we want to buy it ‘I couldn’t tell you if that is good value but I know these bikes were expensive when they were made ‘The wheels are 20-inch tubulars and the groupset is Campagnolo Nuovo Record Some owner must have been very keen to give their child the lightest possible proper racing bike because the cranks and chainrings have been drilled out ‘By this point the company had been Wilier Triestina for some years When we were founded in 1906 by Pietro Dal Molin this area of Italy was under Austrian Empire rule but people of the territory like Dal Molin wanted it to be Italian so to promote this idea they would use words with meanings only known to Italians ‘So “Wilier” is made up from the letters of the phrase W l’Italia Liberate e Redenta “W” was a short way in Italian of writing “viva” ‘“Triestina” was added by Dal Molin when he started our first cycling team again like a protest or resistance – after the Second World War the rule of Trieste [a nearby town] was disputed by Yugoslavia and Italy so he advertised this fact with the team name It is where our “Alabarda” headbadge symbol comes from – it is the symbol for the city of Trieste.’ ‘In 2002 we took back sponsorship of Mercatone Uno and we made this bike specifically for Marco It was different to the ones from our normal production and the rest of the team who rode on aluminium bikes with carbon seatstays,’ says Gastaldello ‘We made it in collaboration with a company called C4 but there were problems with the quality of the structure I think we had 10 made and Marco broke three or four of them just riding – cracks would start in the head tube and the bottom bracket ‘This cost around €2,500 to make back then especially when they would break after one or two years.’ this frame has cracks beginning in the head tube which says a lot about early exploits into carbon frames given that Pantani’s fighting weight was 57kg aluminium-lugged bikes that arrived in the mid-1980s and the ‘traditional’ looking all-carbon bikes that followed Instead of being bonded from separate pieces the K2 and other C4 creations were made entirely in one piece Today C4 operates in the realm of sports diving having moved on from bikes to design fins and spear guns Yet the company’s bikes remain highly collectible from its own ‘Joker’ to early collaborations with Bianchi both of which featured striking seat tube-less designs ‘Michele Scarponi won the 2011 Giro d’Italia on this bike but he didn’t know it at the time,’ says Gastaldello ‘He was awarded the win later on when Alberto Contador was stripped of his title ‘This was our first bike that weighed under 800g. It came in at 780g, which when you write in kilograms is 0.78kg, so we decided to call it the Zero.7. It has the BB386 bottom bracket and one-piece handlebars from FSA with Scarponi’s special graphics painted on the stem and bars – his eagle.’ The Zero.7 name may have been somewhat dubiously awarded – as dubiously awarded as Contador felt his retrospective ban for clenbuterol was with the Spaniard claiming at the time that the abnormal levels returned in his test came from contaminated beef – but nevertheless in 2011 a frame weighing seven-hundred-and-anything grams was a big deal Contador’s ban also handed Scarponi the Volta a Catalunya 2011 title and although ‘The Eagle of Filottrano’ would end up getting his own three-month suspension in 2012 after admitting he had worked with disgraced doctor Michele Ferrari Scarponi would continue to be a fan and sponsors’ favourite racing with Lampre before moving to Astana he found himself subject to a new wave of media attention for his training rides where the Eagle would film an uncannily Astana-coloured parrot it was on such a training ride that Scarponi was killed in a collision with a van driver on 22nd April 2017 ‘Building on the success of the 2006 Cento Alessandro Petacchi’s Cento Uno took him to the points jersey at the 2010 Tour giving him a grand slam of sprint jerseys in the Grand Tours and becoming the first Italian since Franco Bitossi in 1968 to win green in France ‘This feat was all the more impressive given ‘AleJet’ was 36 years old Bitossi – nicknamed ‘Crazy Heart’ due to an arrhythmia that saw him occasionally pause during races – was in his prime at 28 Little wonder Wilier was happy enough to give Petacchi such an intricately finished bike for the Champs-Élysées and Alessandro Ballan won the World Championships on it,’ says Gastaldello ‘It gave credibility for the new type of integrated seatpost and the BB386 bottom bracket we developed with FSA [one of the first oversized BB standards] which was the main addition over the original Cento and meant the frame weight was only 1,150g as the ISP means you do not need a seatpost which are one continuous piece that runs from the seatstay down past the dropouts and through the chainstay ‘The stays are very asymmetric because the flex from the right side is more than the left because of where the chain and crank is We also made the head tube much narrower for aerodynamics This finish is a custom weave layer of carbon that is just aesthetic.’ You must be logged in to post a comment To manage an existing Cyclist magazine subscription, please visit Manage your account or visit our subscription FAQ page. To subscribe, or for other enquiries, please contact us Sign up to the Cyclist newsletter to receive curated emails direct to your inbox Sign up to our newsletter Log in to access Cyclist Rides using your email pertaining to your subscription Don't forget a subscription to Cyclist includes: Log in to post comments and use Ask Cyclist our AI platform that answers your questions based on our articles Register to comment on our latest articles Occasional emails from selected third-party sponsors and advertisers Please enter your username or email address to reset your password Italian takes first pro win after Trentin crashes out of winning break but local knowledge was only part of the story of his dramatic victory When Battistella escaped in the company of Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates) with a shade under 40km to go given that the race’s two strongest teams were now united in ensuring its success.  “We knew it was a good idea to attack and go regular together because the two strongest teams in the race were Astana and UAE,” Battistella said then nobody was going to pull behind.” The finale of the Veneto Classic took in three laps over the area’s most emblematic climb and Battistella and Trentin had a buffer of more than half a minute over an disjointed chasing group when they approached the ascent for the penultimate time Battistella must have scaled its slopes hundreds of times in his cycling life but the ascent threw up a surprise here all the same as Trentin clipped his rear wheel and crashed out of the break “I stood up out of the saddle while I was pulling on the climb He was a bit too close and he touched my wheel and fell,” said Battistella who was briefly unsure of whether to press on or wait for his erstwhile ally of circumstance directeur sportif Giuseppe Martinelli advised him to assess the lie of the land at the summit with a shade under 20km to go “I immediately asked the team what to do and Martino told me to keep going steady and see if somebody came back on Then when I got the top of the climb still alone I pushed on all the way to the finish.” While the 22-year-old acknowledged that Trentin would have been the favourite in a two-up sprint he pointed out that the lack of a breakaway companion rather complicated his chances of staying clear to the line particularly now that UAE Team Emirates were suddenly free to chase on behalf of Marc Hirschi it might have been a bit easier to get to the finish because I could have rested a bit on his wheel but maybe I would have lost in the sprint,” said Battistella “So perhaps the crash changed my race for the better.” With Serenissima Gravel winner Alexey Lutsenko policing the chase on his behalf Battistella still had a very useful ally in the run-in to Bassano del Grappa and he still had plenty of strength in reserve as he showed on the last time up La Rosina He crested the summit with 7km to go with 20 seconds in hand on the chasers That gap suddenly contracted to barely half a dozen seconds on the short and sharp incline that interrupted the descent with 3.5km remaining but he held that meagre advantage all the way to the line to claim the first win of his professional career ahead of Hirschi and Jhonatan Restrepo (Androni-Sidermec) I just pressed on,” Battistella said “And then when I looked around on the descent I also saw there wasn’t any agreement among the chasers and I understood immediately that I could do it.” The victory was Battistella’s first of any description since he claimed the under-23 world title in Harrogate in 2019 following Nils Eekhoff’s disqualification for drafting He turned professional with NTT the following year and he was then snapped up by Astana last winter when the South African squad’s financial difficulties saw all of its riders free to seek other teams Although Battistella made his Giro d’Italia debut this year he expressed disappointment with how the early part of his campaign played out A notable turn in the break on the hilly stage through the Oltrepo Pavese to Stradella perhaps marked something of a turning point Battistella has performed strongly at the Arctic Race of Norway and Benelux Tour before delivering a notable sequence of cameos on home roads in the final weeks of the season He was sixth at the Trofeo Matteotti and fourth at the Coppa Bernocchi while he helped to tee up Lutsenko’s victory in Friday’s inaugural gravel race for professional riders “I worked for Alexey in the last races because he was the rider most in form and today he returned the favour very well especially by disrupting the chasing effort among the riders behind me,” said Battistella “It’s a little bit of a rebirth I had some health problems and I was out of form for a good while I managed to find some form after the Giro d’Italia This is a bit of a release at the end of a season that went badly at the start and then finished very well.” The Veneto Classic was the final race of Battistella’s year but thoughts have already begun to turn to the 2022 campaign with many teams already holding their first pre-season meetings this month Astana-Premier Tech will be rebranded as Astana-Qazaqstan in 2022 and the squad will have more of an Italian feel with the return of Vincenzo Nibali and the arrival of Gianni Moscon will hope his late season run of form allows him to carve out some space for himself next spring “I don’t know the races I’ll do next year I’d like to prepare very well for the Ardennes Classics: Amstel Flèche and Liège,” Battistella said “But that’s all hypothetical for now.” Passed away peacefully to be with the Lord Teodolinda; and the following brothers and sisters: Antonio Born in Italy and moving to Canada at the age of 18 where he met his loving wife of 62 years Colleen raised his family on their orchard in Summerland until moving to Penticton His passion for fishing and travel made for a lot of memorable family outings from fishing the creeks rivers and lakes of BC and Alberta to the annual family camping trip in early summer when things were slow in the orchard Fred and Colleen were able to spend many years traveling the regions of Australia before choosing the Hamlets in Penticton as their final retirement destination and participated in lots of new activities and passed away peacefully at the age of 92 with his wife at his side Fred will be missed by his family and friends but now rests in the company of his son and the lord Evening prayers and a viewing will be held Friday March 7th with the Memorial Mass being held Saturday March 8th                                          St John Vianney Church                                          361 Wade Avenue West                                          Penticton W Italia Libera e Redenta – Long live Italy As much an acronym for patriotism as it is a synonym for the art of Italian frame building Wilier didn’t always have this slogan The frames were first launched with the telling scripture: ‘Dal Molin – Bassano del Grappa’ times were changing – especially in Italy The brand took a positive spin on the country’s liberation adopting the above slogan and even starting the first Wilier Triestina top-tier team that competed in the 1946 post-war edition of the Giro d’Italia comprised exclusively of Italian riders from the local area In commemoration of the Yugoslav partisans’ expulsion from Trieste the crest of the controversy-ridden border town that had been occupied by varying powers was added to the jersey and the steel frames of the team received a copper-coloured chrome finish Ever since – and much like the rest of Italy – the population between Trieste and Vicenza is still as mad about bikes as they are about significant moments in their history so it isn’t surprising that these frame builders continue to embrace their roots while still adopting technological advances The international flair of the Wilier brand is reflected in the nuances of its pronunciation but while it’s often dominated with a more French-sounding twang it’s actually a distinctly Italian name accentuating its origins in Bassano del Grappa their innovation studio stands next to oily lathes and high modulus carbon frames from China line up alongside hand-brazed steel frames from Italy Despite the traditional background chorus of hammer on metal you also have meticulously measured time trial machines created with CAD-determined aerodynamically optimised tubing to the left of you Upon entering the futuristic-looking building we’re immediately offered a coffee while the mother of Michele Through the glass wall behind the reception desk you can dimly make out suited-and-booted men just a few kilometres from Bassano del Grappa Around 40 high-end bikes emerge from the assembly hall each day The brand’s more entry-level models are imported from China and Taiwan for distribution by the brand In a vast on-site warehouse of bike parts and frames snippets of conversations echo around the high shelving units with talk of Campagnolo Super Record and carbon bars briefly interrupted by talk of nieces and nephews That Ramato colourway from the post-war frames is omnipresent these days whether you’re opening one of the packages for delivery or browsing the company’s in-house museum The carbon frame of the newly launched Cento10 Air is giving a new lease of life to the inimitable finish a proud display of how historical awareness can be merged with the ultra-new technology Despite forgoing the brand’s distinctive finish their Cento1 Hybrid is proof that the brand aren’t scared of the future by adopting the Ebikemotion system and motor this lightweight e-road bike was screaming at us to get out for a ride in the vicinity of the brand’s HQ But in order to truly grasp the concept of Wilier Triestina we realised it would take more than just a visit to the HQ ducking into some of the many cafes that lie between the vast plains of Veneto and Monte Grappa where cycling history is poured generously into wine glasses and espresso cups and water instead of spirits – although having to reject the frenetic gestures to try the local wine and grappa verges on sacrilegious we embark on the climb of Monte Grappa from Semonzo where we’re greeted with a breath-taking panorama once we’ve left the woods behind us It’s the sort of view that sets your heart racing– one of those ecstatic ‘why we ride’ moments that doesn’t need for a throat-burning drink to raise your spirit it’s one that gradually ramps up towards the top so save yourself for the upper part if you’re after the Strava segment At the top of Monte Grappa the huge monument to World War I is only accessible by foot so we reverently observe the view and scan the horizon we can see the peaks of the Dolomites and just about make out Venice in the distance on the right the sight of the 28 hairpins we’ve just ridden now fade out of sight It strikes us that Wilier’s spirit seems more embedded in the ascent of the legendary Monte Grappa than it does in the glass façade of their HQ A sort of consensus that the old times are worth valuing while still embracing innovation and progress where the past meets the future in order to enrich the ‘right now’ The history of Wilier Triestina isn’t a dusty edition of indistinct tales but a genuine experience that can be traced on the roads of Veneto and the climb of Monte Grappa GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine is published in a digital app format in both English and German. Download the app for iOS or Android to read all articles on your tablet or smartphone Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of GRAN FONDO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website Statistics cookies collect information anonymously This information helps us to understand how our visitors use our website We use the providers & cookies in this category for targeting our readers (e.g These cookies are used by third-party vendors or publishers to display personalized ads and/or measure the success of ads They do this by tracking visitors across websites Please note that this is an automated translation and it will not be perfect All articles have been written in English and if anything appears to not make sense The blend of traditional and modern tools and techniques produces a relaxed approach This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: The best E-road bike of 2019! – 13 of the most exciting models on test The Rossano Veneto-based family business sent us a Wilier Cento1 Hybrid with a consistently high-end spec the Wilier feels pleasantly restrained in terms of frame design compared to Bianchi and Pinarello the E-road bike is not only very tidy but also extremely light making the Wilier the lightest E-road bike in the test the custom features with that extra dose of sex appeal won’t be available in stores Along with the Ritchey Superlogic carbon cockpit and seat post Wilier paired the MAHLE ebikemotion hub motor with Miche SWR carbon wheels and Shimano’s DURA-ACE R9170 Di2 groupset The look of the stem divided our test crew but it promises a lot of torsional stiffness in the cockpit – we can only hope that the T20 screws don’t come loose on the road since you’re unlikely to find a suitable bit in your multitool though it’s not available as a production bike there are numerous factory builds available in a range of prices the Wilier Cento1 Hybrid exudes a spritely character Besides the minimal weight working in its favour it’s also has a very well balanced ride making the Wilier a lot of fun on every descent ambitious riders will get up climbs well below threshold and be able to attack with everything their worth on the descents Staying fresh can also help beginners to work on improving their skills Anyone who’s been riding road bikes for some years and is now looking to switch to an E-road bike will appreciate the familiarly narrow Q-factor made possible by the hub motor of the MAHLE ebikemotion system The only drawback of this system is that steep climbs can overwhelm it you can relax and enjoy the power of the motor The ride feel of the Wilier is deceptively similar to a conventional bike It’s by far the best E-road bike in the test fitted with the MAHLE ebikemotion motor he motor engages as soon as the cassette rotates and isn’t dependent on the applied force of the rider As long as you keep the pedals turning with minimal effort you’ll easily reach the 25 km/h limit But the Wilier doesn’t encourage leisurely cruising begging to be ridden at high speeds instead and feeling right at home above the 25 km/h threshold The comparatively compact and central riding position is just as enjoyable as the bike’s overall comfort The compliance of the seat post in conjunction with the frameset and tires provide a significant amount of vibration damping Even long rides are no problem – as long as you get on with the shape of the C59 saddle The handling of the Wilier Cento1 Hybrid is good-natured predictable and agile and it feels light-footed even without the support of the motor everyone from beginners to professionals will find an E-road bike that scores for its adjustable support levels and natural road bike handling The lack of power on steep climbs is what cost the Wilier the test victory but our Best Value Tip definitely goes to Italy We’ll drink a shot of Grappa to that Size: XS S M L XLWeight: 11,21 kgMotor: MAHLE ebikemotion X35Motor torque: 40 NmBattery Capacity: 250 WhPrice: € 9,000 For more info head to: wilier.com … also known as bike riding. Broken-up roads in the hinterland, deadlocked gravel roads, loose surfaces – sometimes muddy, sometimes bone-dry. For this, it takes bikes with super all-round, handling and wearing qualities uphill and downhill. Effort-joy ratio: 50:50↩ You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩ At the heart of the new Wilier is a brand-new frameset the new monocoque frame was built with the highest-quality material composition ever used on a ‘Made in Italy’ racer By combining HUS-MOD carbon-fibers with a liquid crystal polymer net the engineers were able to strike an optimal balance between stiffness In order to arrange all the cables internally Wilier relies on a one-piece carbon cockpit with special 1¼” headset-bearings and a proprietary spacer system Unlike with the new BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE Wilier maintains a rounded fork steerer and simply wraps the cables around it According to the engineers who developed the system this won’t affect the steering performance in the slightest In order to achieve the desired frame-performance the Italians dispensed of the cable ports in the down tube this constitutes a major flaw in the system: the cables of mechanical groupsets would have to squeeze through the same recesses of the so-called “Zero cockpit” and the spacers – something that would definitely affect the shifting performance the design severely limits the choice of groupsets leaving the Shimano Di2 and SRAM eTap as the only viable options Wilier relies on an asymmetrical design for both the fork and the rear-end of the Zero SLR the carbon fork features a beefier brake-side leg for added stability and better support This simple but clever trick allows engineers to compensate for the asymmetrical forces typical of disc-brake setups while maintaining the lowest possible system weight The same applies to the rear-end of the 780 g frame (size M) Wilier raised the left chainstay to counteract the higher forces applied to the drive-side of the rear end which in turn cause the chain to deflect sideways Wilier’s newly-developed D-shaped carbon seatpost with either 0 mm or 15 mm offset is clamped with an expander integrated into the top tube The neat integration of the seatpost and the long post-extension are meant to benefit both the aerodynamics and the overall comfort of the bike In order to ensure a consistent level of comfort Wilier adapts the tube dimensions specifically for each frame size The rear drive-side dropout is replaceable and This allows you to take off the wheel without having to fully remove the axle – all you have to do is loosen it The system also prevents you from over-tightening the axle and damaging the thread: “When you reach the right torque the axle lever functions as a torque wrench.” According to Wilier the frame of the new Zero SLR accommodates tires of up to 28 mm Our test bike is specced with a complete Shimano Dura-Ace R9170 Di2 groupset Wilier Triestina ULT38 KT carbon wheels and Vittoria Corsa Tubular 700 x 25C tires Including the Selle Italia SLR Boost Carbon Kit saddle our test bike weighs in at 6.78 kg in size L and costs € 11,100 Wilier’s engineers rely on a newly-developed measuring system to determine the optimal frame size of their bikes your trusted Wilier retailer will determine the X and Y values – also known as Accu-Fit-coordinates – based on the biomechanical values of the distance between the bottom bracket and the middle of the hand rest on the bars Unlike conventional reach and stack measurements this system takes into account the actual contact points between rider and bike By using different combinations of cockpits and spacers it is possible to obtain up to 35 Accu-Fit points for each frame size From the very first moment we liked the discreet look of the Wilier While most Italian bike manufacturers have a strong penchant for loud understated look of the Zero SLR is simply refreshing The cable routing is beautifully solved and allows for an unrestricted steering angle finish and paintwork of the frameset are clear evidence that the Italians enjoy their work and know exactly what they’re talking about The only visual blemish is in the seat clamp integration which doesn’t blend in with the otherwise harmonious overall picture We were lucky enough to test the new Wilier in one of Italy’s legendary cycling spots To take some of the drama out of the steep climbs Wilier’s Asian-Pacific sales manager to borrow his very stylish furry-bunny hat the Zero SLR puts a massive grin on your face Whether you’re setting off from a standstill or sprinting out of corners the Wilier accelerates eagerly and always feels agile it can’t fully play to its strengths Whilst Wilier made an effort in optimising the aerodynamics of the frame tubes the Zero SLR requires a lot more effort than its aero-cousin when riding on the flats at high speed The Wilier is a lively bike you can playfully throw from one corner into the next well-distributed between the front and rear end – just the front-end could be a more accurate Hard braking manoeuvres in hairpin turns and frantic steering inputs at the limit In all other situations the Wilier inspires tons of confidence and conveys a pleasant feeling of safety the tubular tires of our test bike did not fully meet our expectations modern clincher tires with latex inner-tubes and market-leading tubeless setups provide just as much cornering action and comfort the combination with a 160 mm front- / 140 mm rear- rotor proves to be a great choice the Dura-Ace R9170 Di2 groupset delivers outstanding shifting performance The fully-integrated cockpit convinced us with good damping qualities and compelling ergonomics The compliant frameset and flexible seatpost ensure a high overall level of comfort nothing stands in the way of long rides in this respect the riding position is rather compact and centred Riders with relatively short upper bodies can use the 0 mm seatpost to move even further forward over the bottom bracket Here are some impressions of our time at the Wilier HQ and the brand new Zero SLR from Francis Cade’s YouTube channel Italian cult-brand Wilier introduces a modern all-rounder with a lively character and strong inclination for mountain roads If you want to be the first of your riding buddies to sip on a fluffy cappuccino at the mountain-top café and you’re already planning to use an electronic groupset the lively character and consistent integration of the Zero SLR may be just what you’re looking for the Accu-Fit system is a logical step towards improving the riding comfort of their bikes for as wide clientele as possible Only a thorough test will show how the Zero SLR performs in a day-to-day routine and how it fares against its strong competition Wenn ihr mehr über den italienischen Traditionshersteller erfahren wollt, findet ihr hier unseren Artikel zum Hausbesuch If you want to know more about the traditional Italian bike manufacturer For more information head to wilier.com Four new Wilier Rave SLR bikes stood on ceremony with tubes of sealant taped around the seat post riders simply raise their arms to beckon a wheel change in the event of a puncture with no following team cars and outside support allowed they would have to carry out any repairs for themselves Serenissima Gravel was billed as the first gravel race for professional riders and as such it offered a point of confluence between the seemingly distant worlds of elite UCI regulated competition and gravel riding Some familiar features of the emerging discipline were present – wide-section tyres and race numbers on the handlebars – but so too was the bottom of line of pro racing as Astana Premier Tech directeur sportif Giuseppe Martinelli put it: “In the end That sentiment might seem anathema to the inclusive mass-participation spirit of gravel racing but for WorldTour teams and ProTeams alike even one as novel and experimental as Serenissima Gravel whose bike supplier Wilier Triestina hails from nearby Rossano Veneto there was extra motivation to showcase the brand’s new gravel machine on what amounted to home sterrato Lutsenko wins first Serenissima Gravel race Inaugural Serenissima Gravel 'more technical than Strade Bianche' Filippo Pozzato creates a pro gravel race between the Giro del Veneto and the Veneto Classic Filippo Pozzato: We can't take pressure out of bike racing, but we can make it more human due to the late-season date and the distribution issues triggered by the coronavirus pandemic last year had contributed to the absence of some teams and limited the field to just 34 riders spread across eleven squads Attilio Viviani and Thomas Champion lined out on what amounted to something resembling a Strade Bianche bike was already the owner of a De Rosa gravel bike kitted out with Campagnolo’s gravel-specific Ekar groupset “Normally I use a 38-tooth chainring because I do gravel with climbing but today I’m using a 44-tooth because today is flat as a pancake 44 seems small when you compare it to the 53 on the road but my smallest cog on the back is actually a 9 which is a pretty huge gear,” Haas told Cyclingnews before the start which is something I don’t use normally on gravel but that’s because I ride more technical stuff and today is something of a mix between technical stuff and Strade Bianche so I have a super low thread profile as well.” Taco van der Hoorn and his Intermarché-Wanty Gobert teammates were supplied with gravel bikes from Cube in midweek.  “I’ve trained on it and it’s really nice but it’s hard to say what you need for a race like this to spend time in nature,” said the Dutchman who had volunteered expressly to ride Serenissima Gravel.  While Van der Hoorn rides regularly on gravel for leisure he had never raced aboard a gravel bike before.  but the only thing I’m unsure about is the tyre pressure,” he admitted on the start line “It’s difficult to judge because it’s also my first one.” Unlike just about every other team in the race Van der Hoorn and company elected not to carry sealant or pumps with them on the route simply because the short course meant that a puncture effectively meant elimination.  because if you puncture there’s no time to repair and come back on,” he said “But I’ll have to see how I make it to the finish if I get a flat tyre.” I think you’ve lost the race,” he told Cyclingnews adding that his team briefing had been short and to the point.  “I just mentioned three or four names to watch and then I really said to treat it a bit like an individual time trial There aren't going to be a lot of tactics here it’s going to be hard to get that gap back.” the 34 starters were flagged away into the brave new world of professional gravel racing although the crowds were rather larger and louder in the villages and towns the race traversed once it headed inland from Lido di Jesolo on the Venice Lagoon The speed was brisk in the opening phase of the race with the small peloton strung into a long line on the opening sector of gravel with the quartets from Astana and Intermarché-Wanty unsurprisingly making much of the running though the Italian national selection – backboned by mountain bike riders – and Vini Zabù were also present in numbers The road book listed 10 gravel sectors that accounted for over 100 of the race’s 132km The true gravel quota was perhaps closer to two-thirds of a parcours that took in greenway and bike paths as well as muddier and rockier tracks through the woodland of the Sile Natural Park the photographers aboard in-race motorbikes could vouch afterwards for the narrow and sinuous nature of some of the forested tracks on the course “I’d never gone at 50kph on tracks like that before,” mountain biker Luca Criborio of the Italian national team told Cyclingnews.  perhaps a blessing in disguise that circumstances had limited the size of the field but in a peloton of 130 it’s going to be a problem,” he said the race itself seemed to marry elements of gravel and pro road racing a gap of half a minute was essentially insurmountable but the event didn’t unfurl entirely without the wrinkles of team tactics.  Intermarché and then Astana took it in turns to attack on the greenway near Treviso and after Samuele Battistella’s effort was shut down Alexey Lutsenko launched what proved to be the winning move with 80km remaining already winner of the Coppa Agostoni on Monday wouldn’t be seen again until the finish at the spectacular Villa Contarini in Piazzola sul Brenta He approached the finishing circuit with a lead of almost two minutes on the chasers and although he shipped almost half of that advantage on the first of three laps Riccardo Minali of Intermarché-Wanty who wheeled to a halt wearing a broad grin.  it’s just the coolest thing,” he said as a chaperone waited to guide him towards the podium Lutsenko had already accepted the congratulations of a delegation from Wilier at the finish area Their joy at this victory was perhaps doubled when Lutsenko remembered to dismount and walk across the finish line with his bike held aloft over his head.  “I’m happy to win a race like that for the team and for the sponsor,” he said Although the event was unsupported like a typical gravel race the team tactics on view were lifted straight from the road the 34 competitors knew those would be the rules of engagement from the outset but here you just had to accept that the team thing was going to happen and it did with the Wanty and Astana guys taking turns to attack and I just couldn’t follow them all,” said Haas.  the Italian national team was even going into corners and braking to let the guy in front go and then the Wanty guys were trying to keep things together.” hybrid event was always liable to be raced as such and Haas had no complaints about such strategies Talk of contravening the spirit of gravel racing Serenissima Gravel existed on its own merits serving almost as an experiment for future events of this nature “Today might be different but that doesn’t mean it’s going to break gravel or harm the discipline Today is a different event and Filippo Pozzato has thought outside the box and seen a totally different model for road cycling teams to come into,” said Haas.  “People like Lachlan Morton and Jonathan Vaughters started this concept of the alternative programme and now we have the first pro alternative race Anybody who has got something negative to say about it is missing the point.” having worked to try to tee up Minali for the eventual sprint for second place His lone regret about the afternoon concerned the pressure in his tyres.  That was really needed on the first part with the gravel but the roads were easier in the final part and the pressure was too low,” said Van der Hoorn “It’s much easier than something like Paris-Roubaix Lutsenko’s strength on Friday was such that he might have won astride a tricycle and the Kazakhstani will inevitably be the man to watch when the Ride the Dreamland series concludes on Sunday with the Veneto Classic.  For almost 80km – or over two hours – Lutsenko was alone at the head of Serenissima Gravel without a team car for company or a radio earpiece to provide information “Normally when you go alone in the break you have your directeur sportif in your earpiece encouraging you I even waved at a woman on the side of the road,” said Lutsenko who shrugged when asked what was going through his mind.  “I just thought I needed to keep pushing and not give up.” Even in this elite iteration of the discipline the loneliness of the gravel rider was recognisable all the same.  Mareczko and Pozzato lead Italian team in 2017 revealing its hopes to grow to WorldTour status within the next three years Pozzato planning his future as a team manager Filippo Pozzato's Wilier Triestina Cento10 Air - Gallery Mareczko takes revenge as Bayly saves leadership despite late crash Selle Italia new co-naming rights sponsor at Wilier Triestina for 2017 Wilier took over title sponsorship last summer before the Giro d’Italia and further backing has been secured for 2017 from Selle Italia Italian internet and mobile communications brand Fastweb is also set to boost its investment if the team secures a wildcard invitation to the 2017 Giro d’Italia “Our goal is to compete at the highest level in both road racing and mountain biking Our goal on the road is to step up to WorldTour level within three years We think its possible and want to show the Italian and especially the Veneto-based bike industry to the world,” said Enrico Gastaldello one of three brothers who manage the family-owned business from a new factory and offices in Rossano Veneto “We could have become a partner with a WorldTour team but we preferred to take a longer route as a tittle sponsor and we’re sure it’ll be worth it We’ve got to thank Selle Italia for deciding to work with us.” Pozzato turned 35 in September and 2017 will be his 18th season as a professional “It’ll be an important season for me because it could be my last,” Pozzato admitted “I hope to make up for some of the results I missed out on last year We’re a young team with young guys who are developing well My role is to help them and share my experience with them but also to win something to pay back everyone for their support We hope to lay the foundations for something bigger and better for the team.” Mareczko was forced to quit the Giro d’Italia early in 2016 but finished third in the Under 23 World Championships in Qatar and then won three stages in China in the Tour of Taihu Lake “I’ve won 25 races but only one in Italy I hope to change that this year and continue to do well thanks to a stronger lead out train coordinated by Pozzato,” he said “I was disappointed to only win the bronze medal but it was still a good result for me and has given me the motivation for 2017." The Wilier-Selle Italia team will make its season debut at the Vuelta a San Juan Stephen FarrandSocial Links NavigationHead of NewsStephen is one of the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team having reported on professional cycling since 1994 He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022 before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters The approach on a rural road past a geyser called Old Faithful (one has to pay to see it up close) made it seem like an unlikely location for a tour-worthy mansion had bought the 5.5-acre property property in 1985 and began creating mock ruins of classical temples and grottos and building the grand house and studio with some help from locals The black clay of the land meant they had to truck in tons of soil so they could grow everything from pomegranates to roses charging for tours to help defray the cost of upkeep though Marchiori clearly enjoyed sharing what they have done (and probably gets some new business from impressed visitors) visiting Japan and New Zealand before settling in northern California in 1978 working as an illustrator and film animator After achieving global success as a muralist (he has been described by art media as one of the top five in that field) the “frustrated architect,” as he described himself Marchiori has had clients all over the world from executives in Silicon Valley who wanted to have something artistically unique in or around their homes to top hotels like the Raffles in Singapore or Bellagio in Las Vegas which asked him to transform them into modern palaces The villa and grounds were created as showcases for those considering engaging his services and everywhere he has mixed classical mythology with commedia dell’ arte figures and whimsy.  “I kind of have a sacred obsession to create and I have an artistic greed to complete it…My work is theatrical The design of the villa was influenced by the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio (1508-80) with a trademark raised platform and stairs to the main building Palladio’s creations in Vicenza and Veneto have contributed to the designation of the area as a UNESCO World Heritage Site But Ca’ Toga was built from scratch using scrap materials like plywood and metal sheathing with inventive tricks to make them look like ancient columns or limestone The center of the salone or living room was taken up by a sunken fireplace with the smiling skull of a horse tables with hands illustrated with comic figures surrounded by art and audiovisual equipment There is also a crowded library in a neighboring room Invitations to Marchiori’s parties are coveted by area residents and he rents out the house as a singular site for events Marchiori’s mastery of trompe l’oeil three-dimensional illusion was on display on the left side of the living room stimulating the imagination of clients as to what they might be able to do in their own homes The artist paints mostly on canvas and hangs it on the wall rather than actually painting on the wall itself though sometimes an actual fresco has been called for On the right side of the living room was in a painting of the Doge of Venice receiving a delegation from Asia The costume with the mask on the pedestal in the photo was common for those in Renaissance Venice who wanted to go to gambling houses without revealing their identities giving them the ability to conceal their losses from public gossip.  On a table were small sculptures for sale and the artist’s work is also available at the Ca’ Toga Gallery in town: 1206 Cedar Street Thursday-Monday  11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.  The kitchen had a Japanese theme.  Hallways and stairways had carved animal heads or paintings that ranged from classical to fantastic dreams One bedroom was decorated with Native American artifacts while another was made to look like it was in a Renaissance palace and open to the sky where we could see an ambitious project he was working on for a local residence At the entrance of the property was the winged lion of Saint Mark holding a Bible A stone rhino was in the center of the large lawn near a ruined shrine to the goddess Diana (Marchiori has made many of his creations seem like part of an archaeological site coming across a fountain here and a Roman-style tiled pool there a small lake guarded by an alligator serving as a fountain and a Trojan horse large enough to conceal some warriors like a statue of Neptune and a tiled nook that mixed art eras and messages showing everything from a dwarf carrying the moon on his back to a man with a scythe chasing a skeleton.  we relaxed and talked around a table in a beautifully grotto decorated with abalone shells It was a fun and informative visit and we were all in awe the entire time at the artist’s resourcefulness and imagination While we have no plans to return (some visitors do multiple times) we highly recommend the tour to anyone with an interest in art and architecture The Tennessee Aquarium IMAX Theater is providing opportunities for an even broader audience to experience the wonders of giant-screen entertainment with a pair of sensory-friendly screenings ... more Chattanooga Zoo is celebrating the arrival of spring with its annual Hug a Bunny event on April 18 and 19. Attendees will enjoy up-close encounters with rabbits, photos with the Easter Bunny, ... more Ineos at the 2020 Tour of Colombia (Photo by Maximiliano Blanco/Getty Images) When it comes to pioneers of quality cycling gear Italy has been and still is in a league of its own at the forefront of the industry The language of the peloton may traditionally be French but Italy has always been where the romance is the country has always inspired serious allure in anybody with a sense of style or heritage the young protagonist in the cycling flick Breaking Away couldn't get enough of spaghetti and not cottage pie As well as having a mile-long pedigree in style with most of us owning one or several pieces of Italian kit We looked at some of the major players that most of us have either owned or lusted after in one of those green white and red reveries so common in cyclists The origins of Castelli are found in Milan where company founder Vittore Gianni produced clothes for the city's football teams and ballet The company was eventually bought by Armando Castelli in 1939 by which time it was an established cycling supplier having watched his father grow up around pro bike racers Armando's son Maurizio wanted to experiment and innovate outside the confines of Gianni's conservative brief and in 1974 he formed his own breakaway company complete with the scorpion logo - the Castelli we know today Maurizio Castelli achieved his first of many - consumer Lycra cycling shorts and pioneered synthetic chamois pads shortly after that But it is arguably best known for the often-imitated Gabba rainproof jersey launched 10 years ago and now a key item in the wardrobes of many riders Bianchi has been around some considerable time but none more recognisable than the Treviglio brand whose minty green-blue signature paint job has become a cycle sport icon The colour even has a romantic legend behind it: founder Edoardo Bianchi was commissioned to supply bikes to Queen Margherita and was so taken with the colour of her eyes that he had the bikes painted in the same hue Others say it is simply the colour of the sky above Milan Over the years Bianchi has been the brand of choice for Fausto Coppi and Marco Pantani and it retains a foothold at the highest level today keeping pace with Italian rival brands by supplying the successful Jumbo-Visma WorldTour team Cinelli's latest flagship product is a bike called the Nemo Zagato The link to Zagato - a prestigious Italian automotive design house - is illustrated perfectly by photos of the bike side-by-side on a motor racing circuit with a classic Alfa Romeo it sums up Italian cycling pretty well - style is definitely the equal of substance and motor racing heritage is never too far away >>> Subscriptions deals for Cycling Weekly magazine The company, formed in 1948 by former Milan-San Remo winner Cino Cinelli, was better known for its componentry, and there weren't many Seventies and Eighties roadies who didn't lust after the exquisite, polished alloy lines of a 1A (still available) or XA quill stem. Give a cyclist a choice of any Italian bike - any bike at all even - and many would pick a Colnago. The Milan company is arguably the most prestigious bike brand on the market, perhaps as a result of having won so many important races and titles  - not to mention an enduring attachment to Eddy Merckx. But Colnago is not just about history - it remains very much relevant, sponsoring UAE Team Emirates and already boasting 11 WorldTour wins this year with riders like Tadej Pogača and Fernando Gaviria. The company was even in the news during the writing of this feature, having sold a majority share to Abu-Dhabi-based investment fund Chimera Investments. This most Italian of companies has English roots. The original owner, Pietro Dal Molin, bought what is described on Wilier's website as "an almost unknown English brand, Wilier" way back in 1906 in order to begin his own company in Bassano del Grappa in the Veneto region. Two wars passed before Dal Molin, whose bikes had been used by the Italian infantry, entered the pro cycling scene with a team called Wilier Triestina - named after the city of Trieste. Without wartime demand for infantry bikes, it wasn't long before Wilier came unstuck: in 1952, after a non-payment for a shipment of machines, the company closed. It was another 18 years before the Wilier factory was raised from the dead and bought by brothers Lino and Antonio Gastaldello, and Wilier Triestina was given a second wind. It many not have the presence of Colnago or Bianchi, but it is well re-established, with a foothold in the WorldTour under the riders of Astana. Most bike riders will know what its like to find themselves halfway round a long ride with a sore butt, and there;s not really a better illustration of how important a component the saddle is.  However, with it being mostly hidden by a backside, it's also the component least on show. Thankfully, that hasn't stopped companies like Selle San Marco (selle means saddles) from elevating the saddle to a piece of art to outshine most of its other finishing-kit rivals. >>> Cycling Weekly is available on your Smart phone, tablet and desktop San Marco's Rolls, developed in the early Eighties, is the perfect example of this. It was available in a variety of colours, but it was surely the mottled black leather version, rimmed with a gold band and rails and finished off with the diamond shaped Rolls logo, that was the icon. And there are others. Many of us will recognise the riveted Regal, or the bold rear logo of the original Concor, both of which, like the Rolls, are still available to buy new today. If you're a member of a cycling club, you may already own some Santini kit, perhaps unwittingly - not everybody would necessarily know that the brand's longstanding 'SMS' logo stands for Santini Maglificio Sportivo. Making club kit to order is a key part this modestly sized, family-run firm's remit. Formed in 1965 by Pietro Santini and now run by daughters Monica and Paola, the company is located in Lombardy, nestled up against the foothills of the Alps just outside Bergamo. Of course, he may have enjoyed watching Miguel Indurain win the Giro d'Italia in the 1990s on one of his bikes even more. The company's modern machines are easily recognisable for their wavy fork profiles and in-house MOST finishing kit. But the word on the lips of any fan of Pinarello 0 or indeed Team Ineos - is Dogma. The British team has been using these machines, and been winning Grand Tours on them, since 2011. If you fancy owning the latest model, the F12, £12,000 is what you'll need to beg your bank manager for. For many years, Campagnolo was seen as componentry for the connoisseur, a beautiful and artisan anecdote to Shimano's clinical efficiency. "Campag wears in, Shimano wears out" is the saying - except it isn't anymore because the Italian gruppo has become far less used. But while 'Campy' no longer has the market share it used to, it is still used in the WorldTour by UAE, Cofidis and Lotto-Soudal, and with a 12-speed electronic disc groupset, it's up to date. Many of Campagnolo's products have been works of art. Few would deny that the sleek, polished and almost delicate lines of some of its groupset items are irresistible. There's a reason a decent example of its Delta brake can sell for a four-figure sum. Add to this a compelling 1920s backstory involving a young Tullio Campagnolo inventing the quick-release after getting stranded during a race, and you have an iconic brand that is set to endure. This feature originally appeared in the print edition of Cycling Weekly, on sale in newsagents and supermarkets, priced £3.25. Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1 *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1 The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox! Having trained as a journalist at Cardiff University I spent eight years working as a business journalist covering everything from social care to construction to the legal profession and riding my bike at the weekends and evenings When a friend told me Cycling Weekly was looking for a news editor I didn't give myself much chance of landing the role but I did and joined the publication in 2016 spring classics and races in the Middle East since becoming features editor in 2017 I've also been lucky enough to get myself sent to ride my bike for magazine pieces in Portugal and across the UK They've all been fun but I have an enduring passion for covering the national track championships It might not be the most glamorous but it's got a real community feeling to it A new chapter opened in 2024 for the Groupama-FDJ cycling team with the arrival of a brand-new cycle partner: Wilier Triestina is aware of the many challenges that come with this partnership the company’s CEO and sales director Enrico Gastaldello first introduces the brand and talks about the sponsorship’s motivations and ambitions The Wilier company was founded in 1906 in Bassano del Grappa by an entrepreneur named Pietro Dal Molin the company also provided means of transport to the army during the First World War Bassano del Grappa is a small town located ten kilometres from Rossano Veneto and where my grandfather and my father worked before me and my brothers Wilier began to sponsor a professional cycling team the brand had its “factory team” at the Giro Wilier contributed to cycling’s revival and popularity in the post-war period we were obviously very passionate about this sport due to the Coppi-Bartali rivalry there was the third “man” of Italian cycling: Fiorenzo Magni He was also very popular because he tried to make a room for himself between the two campionissimi and also achieved great victories like Giro d’Italia in 1948 and Tour of Flanders in 1949 and 1950 the brand built its history and a great reputation Wilier is the acronym for “W l’Italia liberata e redenta” (Long live Italy but if we look at the older symbols of the brand we’ll find the banner of Bassano del Grappa in addition to the halberd The origin of the latter comes from the 1946 Giro d’Italia The 12th stage supposed to end in Trieste was stopped due to a political protest the territory of Trieste was a “neutral zone” controlled by the English and American armies these political issues led to the race being blocked fifteen kilometers from Trieste A “trick” was found eventually to let part of the peloton enter in Trieste a rider from Trieste called Giordano Cottur This victory brought a lot of joy to the city and calmed the spirits a bit This is one of the reasons why the founder of Wilier decided to associate the name Triestina (meaning “from Trieste”) with his brand The company entered a financial crisis for some reasons including the decline of the bicycle industry and years later the court handling the company’s bankruptcy put ownership of the brand up for auction my grandfather owned a cycle shop in Rossano Veneto where he did repairs and made a few bicycles of his private brand He jumped on the offer and won the auction The Gastaldello family became the owner of the brand in 1969 For a few years the company remained quite small with sales limited to the province and the region but continued to manufacture the brand’s typical product with the “copper chrome colour” of the Wilier bike my father made a first approach to team sponsorship with Mecap-Hoonved followed by several years of partnership with other teams the third generation came: me and my brothers Andrea and Michele We decided to enter the business more seriously even though we went to the store to help my grandfather and we would also make deliveries by van in the region with an employee and it felt like small trips we wanted to sponsor professional teams again because we loved this sport and we wanted to try this adventure We first reached an agreement with the Brescialat team then in 1997 we got a dream opportunity with the Mercatone Uno team They took a gamble by signing Marco Pantani and created a great team around him he abandoned the Giro after a black cat crossed the road and in the first alpine stage to the Alpe d’Huez he wrote his name in history as he set the current climb’s record with a Wilier Triestina bike he won again in Morzine and secured his final podium but we also started to export a little to neighbouring countries such as Austria Distributors also started calling me from the United States and the international market really opened for the brand and we only had a one-year contract with Mercatone Uno took over sponsorship the following year and Pantani did the Giro-Tour double in 1998… We then resumed a sponsorship cycle with Brescialat with whom we have also built a great prize list It was also the opportunity for us to invest in a new headquarters and new products and we tried to develop an Italian team for three years: Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia we wanted to get back to the top and return to the WorldTour one of the cornerstones of our production was the Cento1 model which was launched in 2008 and pushed by the victory of Alessandro Ballan at the World Championship in Varese It is the first model that was thought out and designed by us from start to finish This started our journey of going deeper into aesthetics Another very important model was the Cento10 which Filippo Pozzato was among the first one to use We were the first to integrate the cables into the handlebars Pippo shows the bike to Cancellara who remains speechless introduced in 2019 with Team Total Direct Energies which allowed us to gain even more recognition from the public the professional peloton but also from other competitors Our objective is to make products that satisfy the public and push them to achieve new goals which makes possible the greatest success for the teams we collaborate with We showed that we could win and obtain these very important results with our bikes as an Italian brand we want to offer an experience and an attention to details that might be a little different compared to big brands I like to say that we are the new generation of the best italian cycling manufacturing Wilier’s strength is to offer state of the art bicycles Even more customers want to share their passion with a company like ours We wanted to negotiate with a team taking into account its UCI ranking Groupama-FDJ may not today have the same budget of the top-3 teams and must take a path similar to ours: investment It seemed to us to be the perfect match for the characteristics of our brand in terms of our ambitions and our position Getting started is always the most difficult part because riders are used to a certain product and have to change it and we must be able to organize supplies within decent timings The initial phase is therefore the most critical one once the process started and after getting to know each other well there are always challenges as it is our responsibility to satisfy specific requests in the shortest possible time but I feel that the partnership is off to a good start You have to live up to this enthusiasm and not make mistakes we received only positive feedback from them We felt real enthusiasm for the Filante SLR Road Bike and the Turbine SLR time trial bike We knew that the challenge was all the more important because we had to take over from a good brand which had been working with the team for many years and contributed to many successes I also see this with regard to the public who have started to notice the Groupama-FDJ product We came up with some ideas taking inspiration from some Italian fashion brands Like shoes with a slightly old-fashioned colour and shades that give a worn look to it I personally suggested something like this with a shading reminiscent of the team’s colours Also our marketing team analysed the current colours in the World Tour we realized that the white was rarely used and we thought that this would make it possible to clearly make the team stand out indicating the weight of the paintwork as an important aspect to consider so much so that in the end our road bike was among the top-three lightest of the entire World Tour circuit at the Tour Down Under all these points led to the creation of the current delivery of the Filante SLR x Groupama-FDJ which will allow us to further improve our products and raise up the brand We are also in the process of finalizing some important projects Some novelties will be introduced during the season The respective R&D departments are working throughout and we expect some news between the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Tour de Suisse as the Tour de France starts from Italy this year it is an exceptional showcase to raise awareness of Wilier Triestina together with the support of the team we expect a collaboration that will allow us to create appropriate content and grow on digital platforms The objective is twofold: to strengthen Wilier Triestina in terms of innovation – and we are convinced that this can also be real added value for the team - then to rely on the team to develop communication projects and activities We are convinced that if we do our part at the production level the team will also do its part on the field It was even one of the first conditions to start the partnership we were looking for a partner to be able to grow from an R&D point of view it is important to have a team that pushes us to always do better it was important for the team to have a company capable of meeting its needs we started to develop some new exciting projects The team is in contact with our headquarter every day to improve all the aspects regarding the bicycles The collaboration with Groupama-FDJ pushes us to continue our journey of innovation and development We met Stefan in Calpe when we were invited to the training camp I felt that he was pleasantly surprised that we were there to talk and exchange with them in order to improve their performance This is an added value that we have compared to other major brands I saw that this was important for Stefan to be able to speak directly with the owners and see that he has people in front of him who provide answers within a decent timing It also convinces the athlete that the product was developed as requested the team really likes the fact that decisions are quick and concrete but if we are honest and show that we’re fully committed it is also up to us to welcome Stefan’s expertise as it should be We would already be very satisfied if the team could keep its current position at world level and repeat the results achieved last year with good exposure in the Northern Classics we hope that they will be able to do great things in the Giro and the Tour and bring joy to the fans The only thing I’m a bit sad about is not having Thibaut Pinot anymore Having him in the team and our bicycles would be something special it’s a bit of a pity that he didn’t continue for another year (laughs) but when I look at the team I see many talented riders some who I’m convinced will give great joy right away and others I hope will do so in the coming years The start of the season actually proved it In the Wilier Triestina headquarters you can find a section dedicated to history with That very bicycle that the cyclist from Romagna used when he raced with Mercatone Uno that bicycle that saw so many triumphs and of which we still have the photograph we took when Marco Pantani's Wilier Triestina was brand new and freshly painted just before it was delivered to the cyclist it's ready" and that was enough to take the cameras and leave for Rossano Veneto A sort of before and after with the official components used by Marco Pantani and the special versions of the components that were given to the riders: those with the Shimano writing clearly visible on the crank instead of the model name (Dura Ace) of the components We also spoke with the managers of Wilier Triestina that first bicycle photographed in 1997 was the first model given to Pantani We know how much the rider was a maniac for lightness and rigidity to the point of having various manufacturers make special frames that were never put on sale precisely because they were too light and unable to guarantee adequate durability over time while maintaining the same positioning dimensions in the saddle (you can see it from the overlapping images below) The frame currently exhibited by Wilier Triestina is slightly smaller but it is easy to see how the differences have been compensated with the handlebar attachment and seat post extraction From which we also notice a different angle of the seat tube which Marco evidently wanted that bicycle to be more responsive than ever Marco Pantani's Wilier Triestina from 1997 Your email address will not be published. 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The work scope includes the construction and establishment of the steel structure and the building of the production line the paper manufacturer said in a statement to the Saudi stock exchange The work is expected to be completed in 270 days after receiving the down payment building permit and handover of the work site In June 2022, the company signed an agreement with TOSCOTEC to purchase a new machine in the second industrial city in Dammam and produce tissue paper rolls The fifth production line has a capacity of 60,000 tonnes annually raising the company's total production capacity to 190,000 tonnes from 130,000 tonnes per year (Writing by P Deol; Editing by Anoop Menon) (anoop.menon@lseg.com) Subscribe to our Projects' PULSE newsletter that brings you trustworthy news updates and insights on project activities and partnerships across sectors in the Middle East and Africa Get insights and exclusive content from the world of business and finance that you can trust, delivered to your inbox. has signed an agreement with Italy’s Toscotec to supply a raw tissue paper rolls production line for its Dammam 2nd Industrial City factory The fifth line is being procured at a total cost of 166 million Saudi riyals ($44.17 million) the company said in a stock exchange statement The project will increase the company’s production capacity of tissue paper rolls by 60,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) to 190,000 TPA to meet local and export market requirements The deal will be financed from Saudi Paper’s operating revenue as well as banks and local financing institutions it said adding that production is likely to start during the third quarter of 2024 (Writing by D Madhura; Editing by Anoop Menon) Get insights and exclusive content from the world of business and finance that you can trust Notices are posted by 10 am Monday through Saturday Adjust Text Size: A+ A- PIETRO TRENTIN It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our dear husband Pietro will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 50 years Daniella Franczyk (Frank) of Winnipeg and Manuela Parcells (Jamie) also of Winnipeg; and eight grandchildren He is also survived by four brothers and three sisters and their families in Italy as well as cousins in British Columbia He came to Canada in 1954 and married Sabina in 1956 Pietro had been employed by Bart Construction and Alpine Drywall for many years He was devoted to his family and loved to spend time gardening and wine making Pietro sang in the Holy Rosary Church Choir for over 25 years and was a proud member of the Gruppo Alpino of Winnipeg He was always ready to lend a helping hand to his family and friends The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Dr Boniface Hospital for their excellent care and compassion Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday Visitation will take place one hour prior to the mass Entombment will follow in Holy Angel Mausoleum Pallbearers will be Pietro's fellow members of the Gruppo Alpino of Winnipeg GREEN ACRES Funeral Home and Cemetery Hwy As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 28 Share your memories and/or express your condolences below Unfortunately with the need to moderate tributes for inappropriate content your comments may take up to 48 hours to appear