1930 – 1969 | Colnago

1966

Motta’s big year

Gianni Motta wins the Giro d’Italia and finishes second at the Milan-San Remo race. Ernesto Colnago is at his side throughout, providing technical expertise and moral support.

1964

Italian team mechanic

From Sallanches in 1964 to Barcelona in 1973, Ernesto Colnago is mechanic for the Italian national team at 10 world championships.

1962

A tough decision

Ernesto Colnago leaves Fiorenzo Magni, moving to Gianni Motta’s Molteni team.

1957

Made-to-measure

Gastone Nencini triumphs at the Giro d’Italia on a bike with a special geometry tailor made for him by Ernesto.

1955

His first Giro

Ernesto Colnago plays a star part in his first ever Giro d’Italia, assembling the bike that carries Fiorenzo Magni to the race leader’s pink jersey.

1954

A key encounter

The very first Colnago bike is built. Ernesto Colnago meets great Italian rider Fiorenzo Magni, known as the Lion of Flanders and becomes deputy mechanic for the Nivea team.

1952

Colnago workshop opened

His first workshop is a small, 25 sq metre shop at No. 10 Via Garibaldi, Cambiago. Ernesto’s father cuts down the family’s mulberry tree to make a workbench.

1951

A lucky accident

Ernesto Colnago breaks his leg in a crash is forced to rest for 50 days. He starts building wheels for Gloria at home and realizes he wants to start up on his own.

1949

Ernesto Colnago’s cycling career

Ernesto Colnago’s first success as a cyclist comes at the Coppa Gabellini race. It’s followed by a further twelve victories.

1945

His first job

Ernesto Colnago starts his working life as a welding assistant at Gloria, a Milan-based bicycle manufacturer. Not long after, he starts racing bicycles.

1939

The perfect gift

Ernesto’s parents give him his first ever bike: it was black, third hand and called ‘Perla’.

1932

The beginning

Ernesto Colnago is born into a farming family on 9 February in Cambiago, a small rural village in northern Italy, not far from Milan.