A vintage racing bike known to all collectors is the Wilier Triestina Ramato with its copper-coloured chrome frame and front fork. A gem that is on many wish lists but unfortunately hard to find. I am lucky enough to have one in my collection.
Foundation Wilier Triestina
Wilier has been founded in 1906 in Bassano del Grappa, in the Province of Vicenza by Pietro Dal Molin. First the company was called Ciclomeccanica Dal Molin but soon the name changed to Wilier which is an acronym of W l’Italia Libera e Redenta which means as much as Long live Italy free and redeemed. The name Triestina was only added in 1945 and is a reference to the city of Trieste.
Image from 1948 of the factory
But it was only after WWII that Wilier, thanks to Mario, Pietro's son, really threw himself into cycling with the creation of a cycling team to participate in the Giro d'Italia in 1946. This sponsorship continued successfully until 1951, because in 1948 Fiorenzo Magni wins the Giro d'Italia and the Tour of Flanders in 1949 and 1950.
Wilier immediately becomes known to the general public.
The Wilier Ramato racing bike from Fiorenzo Magni
Closure between 1951 and 1969
As many other bicycle manufacturers struggled in the 1950s and 1960s, so did Wilier Triestina. Production drops enormously and the company starts producing mopeds and mopeds, a market that was booming at the time. The final blow, however, is a ship loaded with bicycles to Argentina, for which Wilier never gets his money.
Moped of the brand Wilier Triestina
This causes Wilier to file for bankruptcy in 1951. Fortunately, in 1969 a lender pops up with the Gastaldello brothers who breathe new life into the bicycle brand.
From the late 1970s, Wilier again sponsored a professional cycling team and resumed the production of their Ramato, the showpiece of the company that was already on the market in the 1940s.
From then on, important competitions were won again, such as the 2000 World Time Trial Championships by Honcar, Davide Rebellin in 2004 with the Amstel Gold Race, Liège Bastogne Liège and the Flèche Wallonne, the Tour of Flanders in 2007 and the 2008 Road World Championships by Alessandro Ballan, the Tour of Lombardy by Damiano Cunego in 2007 and 2008, the green jersey of Alessandro Petacchi in the 2010 Tour de France, the overall victory in the 2011 Giro d'Italia by Michele Scarponi to name but a few.
Most important teams and most famous riders
The most important teams that Wilier Triestina has sponsored so far are:
- 1946-1951: Wilier Triestina
- 1979: Mecap-Hoonved
- 1981-1982: Selle San Marco-Wilier Triestina
- 1983: Mareno-Wilier Triestina
- 1984: Supermercati Brianzoli-Essebi
- 1995: Brescialat-Fago
- 1996: San Marco Group-Fago
- 1997: Mercatone Uno-Scanavino
- 1998: Brescialat-Liquigas
- 1999-2001: Liquigas-Pata
- 2002: Mercatone Uno-Scanavino
- 2003-2004: Team Gerolsteiner, Lampre
- 2005-2006: Cofidis
- 2006-2012: Lampre-ISD
- 2013-2014: OCBC Singapore Continental Cycling Team
- 2013-2015: Colombia
- 2014-2016: UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
- 2014-2018: MG.K Vis-Trevigiani
- 2016-2018: Wilier Triestina – Selle Italia
- 2018-2021: Direct Énergie
- 2020-: Astana Pro Team
The most famous riders who ever rode a Wilier Triestina road bike are Fiorenzo Magni, Marco Pantani, Damiano Cunego, Alessandro Ballan, Alessandro Petacchi, Davide Rebellin and Michele Scarponi. Eric Vanderaerden and Rik Verbrugghe also rode a Wilier Triestina once.
Marco Pantani in 1997 – foto Wim Dingemanse
Wilier Triestina today
Wilier Triestina still sponsors various cycling teams, including those in the UCI I category. They mainly produce carbon bikes but also aluminum and even the Ramato in steel with a modern group is again available. In addition to racing bikes, their range also includes mountain bikes, triathlon bikes, gravel bikes, E-bikes and clothing.
You can find more info on the website www.wilier.com
The new Wilier Triestina Ramato in a modern version
