Categories: In MemoriamThe Hardmen

In Memoriam: Fiorenzo Magni, December 7, 1920 – October 19, 2012

The Velominati mourn today the passing of Fiorenzo Magni, perhaps one of the Cycling world’s greatest living example of the spirit of The V and all that surrounds it.

Magni was the original Lion of Flanders, a feat heightened somewhat by his being Italian, not Flemish – though the Flemish had little to argue with after he won de Ronde three times in a row. He also famously used an inner tube tied to his stem and held between his teeth in order to compete in the Stage 13 time trial of the 1956 Giro d’Italia. Because quitting is for quitters, not hardmen. He finished second, a feat which we was more proud of than his three previous Giro titles.

Our sport is one of mighty peaks and valleys; the heights we reach are made great by the depth of the valley we have climbed from. Today, Magni has given us a monumentally deep valley. His passing leaves a void which may never be filled; men like him are rare in any age, but certainly the age in which we find ourselves presently. We shall walk this valley with honor and remembrance.

Magni was 91 years old, and suffered an aneurysm in today’s early morning hours. More information available at CyclingNews.com.

[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/Magni/”/]

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Winelli says:

Oct 19 2012 at 2:01 pm

Today we mourn.
Tomorrow we ride.
Lepidopterist says:

Oct 19 2012 at 2:15 pm

The embodiment of the V.

RIP
meursault says:

Oct 19 2012 at 2:22 pm

@Winelli

Today we mourn.
Tomorrow we ride.

I second that emotion, well put sir.
Buck Rogers says:

Oct 19 2012 at 2:30 pm

@Winelli

Today we mourn.
Tomorrow we ride.

+1. Well said.
markpa says:

Oct 19 2012 at 5:46 pm

His quote from the wikipedia article (my emphasis)
" I have always admired them for what they could do and esteemed them for who they were"

If only we could say the same of the many of last generation.
markpa says:

Oct 19 2012 at 6:11 pm

Went on to read http://bikeraceinfo.com/oralhistory/magni.html
"Human values come first. I have always put them before sport."

and when I get to the cycle touring in Europe that's on the bucket list the climb to the Madonna del Ghisallo has to be in there
Leroy says:

Oct 20 2012 at 12:05 am

Wow! I was not familiar with his ride in the 1956 Giro until reading up on it just now after seeing this... They don't come much harder than this! Unbelievable!! True legend of the sport!

Great write up Frank!!
Adrian says:

Oct 20 2012 at 12:36 am

A true hero, hardpan and lover of Wiliers. It doesn't get much better than that!
Adrian says:

Oct 20 2012 at 12:37 am

That would be hardman, autospell is starting to get old...
minion says:

Oct 20 2012 at 1:25 am

And the photos are irrefutable proof that, the less hair you have on your head, the harder you are.

I pity you hirsute sooks.