In May, Velominati wake up too early, brew espresso and open laptop computers to watch small streaming videos of the Giro d’Italia. We notice how different the Giro is from the Tour de France. It’s more colorful, more vibrant, more full of life. If Hinault somehow represents the TdF, Moser would represent the Giro. Lo Sceriffo, The Sheriff, Francesco Moser––it’s hard to get a grip on these older riders as we just have still photos and some short bits of film, if we are lucky, to take their measure. In the Paris-Roubaix film, A Sunday in Hell, late in the race, the winning break has gone away, it is Moser who appears out of the dust. He is in his Italian Champion jersey, hunkered low over his bike, flying down the edge of the road to catch Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck. He is cooler than Eddy.
Moser was one of the few people who dared take on the Hour Record. He beat Merckx’s 1972 record but it was on a much more aerodynamic bike (and some extra red blood cells, a new and then legal practice ). His stroke defined magnificent and his position on the bike is something one could only aspire to: in the drops, upper torso low and flat, he is all legs and forward motion.
To call him the Fabian Cancellara of his day would be more accurate when Fabian wins yet another Paris-Roubaix, a few more classics, the World Championship road race, a Grand Tour and continues to kick ass for another five years. As racers they share many similarities; they are big powerful men, tough Classic racers, excellent time trialists, both Passistas with a capital P.
Obviously I’m a big fan of his. A big powerful Italian who excelled on both cold cobbles of Northern Europe and stage racing in Italy, a World Champion and a Giro winner and he still is fit and whips his old rivals at cycling events. What’s not to love?
“Francesco Moser, who won, was at his pinnacle. He was the most macho macho-man you ever met in your life” -John Eustice, who was on the very first American team to ride in the Giro, 1984
This quote thrills me. Moser seems not to have been the pugnacious prick that Hinault was. I suspect he was just as intimidating but a look was all that was required. To a skinny young American pro like John Eustice, finally riding in the european pro ranks and rubbing shoulders with Francesco in Moser’s home Tour, it must have been extremely humbling. When “lo sceriffo” says the peloton rides piano, everyone rides piano. Moser probably made him shave off that sweet ‘stash too.
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The only thing I know about Moser is how he is portrayed in The Flying Scotsman. If that is what he is really like then he is one cool dude.
I've always been a Moser fan. Has there ever been anyone with a more naturally aero position on the bike? I doubt it. Pure style and strength. He was always a bit of a game-changer too. His use of aero equipment, one of the first riders to regularly wear sunglasses, use a skinsuit, and had the balls to be one of the first Italians (on an Italian team no less) to use Shimano equipment instead of Campagnolo. Class.
Perhaps a bit off topic but with respect to:
Being a born again Velominatus, I handn't taken the time to watch the Giro in years past. But after watching every stage so far this year (makes for great background noise while working from home), I have to agree that the Giro (at least this year's race) looks more "real" and more "raw" that the TdF. Not to mention more brutal.
Awesome! I love "A Sunday in Hell," and when he pulls through like that, entering the shot I get chills. Rotary action!
The comparison to Cancellara makes me realize just how incredible Lo Sceriffo was; I knew he was great, but didn't realize how great. Thanks for setting me straight.
And the mustache bit had me laughing, "Ugh, hey, that thing needs to go, sport." I can just imagine being in Italy and having the Italiano Sceriffo look over at you as he pedals away so smoothly with a look of disdain regarding your facial hair.
And wow, if I look like that at his age I'll be pretty happy.
Gianni, Gianni, Gianni. Fucking rad. Haven't been the biggest fan of his, but I'm coming around. For those of us who didn't watch the races live, we're influenced by rumours like the one that the race organizers robbed Fignon of a Giro win and crap like that. But that's just on side of the story. Awesome article. Thanks.
I always thought that Dan Casebeer, owner of Grand Performance in St. Paul, MN looked like Moser. He seemed to be built like him and looks like him. And he rides like him. Dan would steamroll us on any day of riding or racing, any time.
I remember watching him race one day at this crit course in St. Paul. We all raced there alot, it was on a car racing track, so super twisty and fun, but really safe because there was no traffic. He just rode right off the front of the pack, then kept giving me instructions to yell at the teammates back in the bunch. He just kept opening up a gap, ITT'ing off the front like it was Sunday afternoon (it may well have been Sunday afternoon) and the bunch was chasing and losing ground. Class.
He got me into Bianchi, and, on my first resurrection as a Velominatus, he was my Cycling Sensei. Grazi Gianni for bringing this up, and Grazzi Dan for helping me see the light.
Thanks for the write up on The Sheriff. This tell me I need to bone up on my cycling history beyond LeMond-Hinault. The picture just has that look like " I may be old, but I'll still wup you ass!"
Super cool.
@Pedale.Forchetta @G'phant
You really living our fantasy cycling life Pedale, riding a Grand Fondo with Moser. It's good you didn't pass him, Lo Sceriffo would have given you such a look.
To be dropped by Moser in a Grand Fondo, that would be on my life list.
G'phant, I have a compact too, safety in numbers. Maybe the Italians would somehow take pity on us.
@Ron
The Eustice-Moser comparison kills me, both males of the species but that's where the similarities end. Eustice must have hastily shaved off the 'stash after the first stage.
I agree about Moser blasting by the camera in a Sunday in Hell, it really is IT! Making the two blown-out French guys look like they are standing still. His position truly is awesome, so low and fast.
Great article. I love the old video as well.
Speaking of the video, at the very start there appear to be two guys sporting the classic Brooklyn jersey, unless I'm mistaken. I now live in a neighborhood called Brooklyn (not THE Brooklyn, just a Brooklyn). How douche-tastic would it be for me to rock one of those with black bibs?