FAUSTO COPPI KT2 26″ – authentic climbing bike of R.Virenque Tour de France (Team Polti 1999) – SOLD

Fausto Coppi (September 15, 1919 – January 2nd, 1960), was an Italian cyclist, the dominant international cyclist of the years each side of the Second World War. His successes earned him the title Il Campionissimo, or champion of champions. He was an all-round racing cyclist: he excelled in both climbing and time trialing, and was also a great sprinter. He won the Giro d’Italia five times (1940, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953), the Tour de France twice (1949 and 1952), and the World Championship in 1953. Other notable results include winning the Giro di Lombardia five times, the Milan–San Remo three times, as well as wins at Paris–Roubaix and La Flèche Wallonne and setting the hour record (45.798 km) in 1942.

Team Polti was an Italian professional cycling team. It became an independent team in 1994, after the separation of Lampre-Polti, and was active until 2000. Team Polti began in 1994 with Gianluigi Stanga as directeur sportif and Vittorio Algeri and Claudio Corti as managers. The team used Fausto Coppi bikes. Team Polti was one of the strongest teams in mid/late 1990s with many great riders on board: R.Virenque, K.Abdoujaparov, Gianni Bugno, Jörg Jaksche,  Romāns Vainšteins, Mauro Gianetti, Mirko Celestino…

In 1993 the company F.LLI MASCIAGHI, owner of the brand Fausto Coppi, put in charge Giovanni Pellizzolli of the design and manufacturing of their top line racing bikes which were used by Team Polti. Aluminium was material of choice back in late 1990s. Also Virenque’s biggest rivals were using aluminium bikes (Ullrich on Pinarello, Camenzind on Colnago, Pantani on Bianchi, Vandenbroucke on MBK…)

Richard Virenque (born 19 November 1969) is a retired French professional road racing cyclist. He was one of the most popular French riders with fans for his boyish personality and his long, lone attacks. He was a climber, best remembered for winning the King of the Mountains competition of the Tour de France a record seven times. He won 7 stages at the Tour, 1 at the Giro. He also won Paris Tours in 2001.

Richard Virenque – Tour de France 1999

Here we are proudly presenting another Italian vintage racing machine – Fausto Coppi  KT2 26″ ridden by Richard Virenque (Team Polti) back in 1999. He used this special bike with 26″ wheels for climbing stages at the Giro and Tour back in 1999. Superb frameset made of Altec 2 Plus tubing built with Shimano Dura Ace 7700 groupset, San Marco saddle. Extraordinary piece, perfect to enrich any classic bicycle collection or just enjoy a fast and comfortable ride.

A museum piece. 

Frame: Fausto Coppi Aluminium KT2 Reparto Corse for Richard Virenque (Team Polti)

Size:

– seat tube (c-t): 60 cm

– top tube (c-c): 56 cm

– headset tube: 18.3 cm

– standover  : 80.7 cm

Crankset: Shimano Dura Ace 7700, 53/39

Rear Derailleur: Shimano Dura Ace 7700

Front Derailleur: Shimano Dura Ace 7700

Levers: Shimano Dura Ace 7700

Brakes: Shimano Dura Ace 7700

Headset: Shimano Dura Ace 7700

Bottom bracket: Shimano Dura Ace 7700

Hubs: Shimano Dura Ace 7700

Cassette: Shimano Dura Ace 7700 (9s)

Stem: ITM Big One (130 mm)

Handlebar: ITM Pro

Seatpost: Shimano Dura Ace 7700

Saddle: San Marco Concor Coppi

Pedals: Shimano Dura Ace 7700

Handlebar tape: Silva

Condition: Used, but very good condition. Original paint and decals. No dents, no cracks, not bent. Some signs of normal use. All parts are working fine.

Weight:  7,85kg (as on photo)

Year: 1999

Price: SOLD (May 2024)