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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@Gianni I was about to post a comment over on that other thread we have going but stopped to catch up on this one instead. Good as the points are over there, I'd much rather read something like this. Grazie mille.
@mcsqueak
Totally douche-tastic! Do it man. You could be the local Roger De Vlaeminck. There was a Italian tri-colore version of that jersey that I lusted after but it was never in anything but wee Italian sizes.
WE had his hour-record bike in a shop where I used to work. It was truly amazing to have in front of you, a true piece of cycling history.
And that rear disc was massive!
@Pedale.Forchetta
Thanks for confirming, PF. So jealous right now.
A few years ago I was lucky enough to come into possession of a Benotto Modelo 3000, which bore world champion rainbow decals on the top tube and a small sticker commemorating the 1977 worlds in San Cristobal, Venezuela, where Moser won. At the time I had no idea who Moser was, and now I like to imagine that in the years following his triumph he rode a bike just like mine. Now the Columbus masterpiece hangs on my wall.
@Dashiell
Nice. I looked on eBay for Moser steel frames and they are scarce. Yours might have to come off the wall.
@frank
How else was Moser supposed to win a Giro? With all those climbs? We are talking Itay after all. I believe the Giro Moser won was heavily weighted toward flatter stages and flatter time trials just so he would have a chance. The climbers should not get all the Grand Tours, no?
I just finished riding one of my F.Mosers in honor of this great post. Apparently, Francesco and Vic Haines are attempting the Tandem Hour Record this August. The Sheriff rides again. :)
Like this?
Great Post: What I find amazing about the video is that these guys were too tough for head protection, even when riding on the stones...but in this short clip you can see a few guys crashed and ended up with big gashes on their heads. These guys have all paid attention to Rule #5.
Nice one Gianni.
That quote by Eustice sums up everything I know about Moser. He was very cool both on and off the bike. Great that you've used a current photo of him as well. Still looks as cut as his Pro days. Awesome
Some of my favourite shots of him on
and off
the bike.