BARTALI Corsa by Santamaria – authentic bike of G.CORRIERI (Team BARTALI 1950) – SOLD

Gino Bartali (18 July 1914 – 5 May 2000), nicknamed The man of steel, Gino the Pious, Ginettaccio, was one of the biggest champions of road cycling history. He was the most renowned Italian cyclist in mid/late1930s – ealry 1950s having won the Giro d’Italia three times (1936, 1937 nad 1946), the Tour de France twice (1938 and 1948), Italian championship 4 times (1935, 1937, 1940 and 1952), Milano – San Remo 4 times (1939, 1940, 1947, 1950). His second Tour de France victory in 1948 gave him the largest gap between victories in the race.

Bartali was a good climber and a pioneer of using gears and derailleurs. His style was unusual: he rarely danced on the pedals and often stayed in the saddle throughout a 15 km climb. When others attacked, he stayed in the saddle but changed up gear, to a sprocket three teeth smaller. He rode smoothly over the mountains but every now and then freewheeled, always with his right foot lowered with his weight on it. Then a second or two later he would start pedalling again.

Gino Bartali (BARTALI Team)

Bartali earned worldwide respect for his work in helping Jews who were being persecuted by the Nazis during the time of the Italian Social Republic. It emerged in December 2010 that Bartali had hidden a Jewish family in his cellar and, according to one of the survivors, saved their lives in doing so. Bartali used his fame to carry messages and documents to the Italian Resistance. Bartali cycled from Florence through Tuscany, Umbria, and Marche, many times traveling as far afield as Assisi, all the while wearing the racing jersey emblazoned with his name. Neither the Fascist police nor the German troops risked discontent by arresting him.

There are many stories about Bartali that will never be forgotten. In 1943, he led Jewish refugees towards the Swiss Alps himself. He cycled, pulling a wagon with a secret compartment, telling patrols it was just part of his training. Bartali told his son Andrea only that “One does these things and then that’s that”. Even after the war he never boasted his merits, he used to say: “The good is done, but it is not said. And certain medals hang on the soul, not on the jacket.”

At the end of 1948, Gino Bartali left Legnano Team and decided to race with his own team, Cicli BARTALI. The racing bikes  were produced by Santamaria brothers (Cicli Fratelli Santamaria) in Novi Ligure. Bartali probably chose the factory of Santamaria brothers due to Fausto Coppi’s advice, who lived in Novi Ligure as well. Coppi was a great friend of the brothers Santamaria (the Santamaria brothers built Coppi’s racing bike in 1939 for the Giro of Piemonte, after which Legnano convinced Coppi to move to them for the 1940 Giro d’Italia. The commercial involvement between Santamaria and Bartali continued until 1955.

Giovanni Corrieri was born on 7 February 1920 in Messina, Sicily, Italy. His nickname was “Sicilian arrow“. In years 1948-1954 he rode for BARTALI Team and was one of the most appreciated riders of Gino Bartali. Corrieri won 7 stages in the Giro d’Italia between 1947-1955 and 3 stages at the Tour de France (2 stages in 1948 and one in 1950). Corrieri died in 2017 at the age of 96 in Tuscany.

G.Corrieri (Bartali Team) after winning a stage at the Giro

Happy to present a piece of the Italian cycling history, a superb vintage racing machine – BARTALI Corsa by Santamaria, ridden by Giovanni Corrieri (Bartali Team). It dates back to 1950, thanks to special Bartali vintage bike register. In 1950, Corrieri won a stage at the Tour de France and he was ridding the bike we are presenting here. Back in the days each rider had only one bike per season. The frame is made light steel tubing (for that era) and equipped with Cervino Torino gearing system which was much better and more precise compared to Campagnolo Cambio Corsa. Easy to recognize typical Santamaria lugs, fork crown, headbadge and Bartali decals. Built with original Bartali marked parts (crankset, headset, hubs), Cinelli steel stem and handlebar, Brooks saddle, double vintage metal water bottles mounted on the handlebar. No much words needed.

A museum piece.

Frame & Fork: BARTALI Corsa by Santamaria for Giovanni Corrieri Team Bartali (frame no. 38171)

Size:

– seat tube (c-t): 59 cm

– top tube (c-c): 56.5 cm

– headset tube: 15.5 cm

– standover: 83.5 cm

Crankset: Bartali with aluminium Magistroni chainrings

Gearing system: Cervino Torino

Front derailleur: Simplex

Headset: Bartali

Brakes: Ballila

Levers: Le Roi Grimpeurs

Hubs: Bartali

Rims: NiSi

Stem: Cinelli, steel

Handlebar: Cinelli, steel

Saddle: Brooks

Pedals: Fom

Handlebar Tape: cotton, blue

Condition: Used, but good condition. Restored and refurbished. No cracks, no dents, not bent. All parts are working fine.

Year: 1950

Price: Make an offer 

*Shipping worldwide available. Due to copyright reasons the photos are in lower resolution and marked with watermark. If you are interested in buying, have any questions or would like to request a full HD photo album of the bike please feel free to contact us.