FlavioZappi’s Blog

Since coming back to cycling in 2008 I’ve gradually change my plan from just racing to coach…and now I’ve this idea to create an academy style team.

Back in 1979 I was part of a team called Lema mobili based near Bergamo north Italy, and the team was very famous to be the only one were rider were living in a house toghether for a season.

“La squadra” was very well organized and 10 out 12 got professianal contract within 1979 and 1981, 4 of us were racing with “azzurri” nat team.

More team followed the “Lema” style over the years, but our direttore sportivo Domenico Garbelli was something special, was living, train, dine and get to the races with us.
Was our surrogate father…very strict father.
Every morning he will check our weight and blood pressure and after breakfast follow us with the team car or the scooter.
Very ofter we would have a second training in the afternoon (just after a power nap), then dinner a bit of tv and then bed time…always at 9pm!
More to follow…..

An old friend of mine, Varerio Piva, who has now moved from Italy and is living in Belgium after marrying Danielle, a successful hoteliere (Hotel Malpertuu in Riemst)

I was an amateur with Valerio in 1980 with team Lema/Mobili. Of the 15 riders in the team, 14 turn professional before 1984 winning more than 60 races in one season, including international races and stage races like, Settimana Bergamasca, Giro Val d’Aosta, etc. 4 riders racing for national team either on road or track. All this under the guidance of mythical and possibly the most famous and successful direttore sportivo in history DOMENICO GARBELLI.

Valerio had a long serving career where he raced and worked as “gregario” for many captains in the strongest teams. He become very popular for his quality of team player and of course team “rouler”. He now enjoys cycling from the team car…

Alfredo Binda

One of the greatest riders of the 20’s and 30’s was born on 11 August 1902 in Cittiglio, a small town in the Varese area of Northern. Binda’s story is simply unique: not only could he win, all the most important races in Italy and abroad, but could, in his capacity as coach, help bring triumph to other athletes. Athletes with the calibre of Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi. His palmares as a rider include, 4 Tour of Lombardy, 4 Italian championships, 2 Milan-San Remo, 3 World Championships and 5 editions of the Tour of Italy, with 41 stage wins. It is said that because of his extraordinary superiority, in 1930 he was paid approximately 22,500 lira by the organizers not to take part in the Giro that year…
The name of Alfredo Binda opened the roll of honour at the World Championships. The man from Varese is took victory in the first edition, which took place in 1927, he also achieved a further 2 victories in his career. His record of 3 wins still stands to this day. In 1936 he left the athletic activities of racing and became coach of the Italian national team: leading to victories at the Tour de France with Bartali in ‘48 and Coppi in’49 and ’52, and also the rainbow jersey of the world championships with Coppi in Lugano in 1953.

below one of  Coppi’s legendary climbs at the Giro d’Italia’s, Passo dello Stelvio with Alfredo Binda in the car…