Bianchi is more than just a bicycle brand—it is a symbol of cycling’s heritage, steeped in over a century of racing triumphs, technological innovation, and the unmistakable allure of celeste paint. From Fausto Coppi’s legendary exploits to modern victories on road and cobbles, the Italian marque has long stood at the heart of the sport’s golden age. Corsa Classic’s The Vintage Bianchi Book captures that legacy with care and elegance, presenting forty iconic machines spanning seven decades in a lavishly produced volume that will appeal to collectors, cycling historians, and anyone enchanted by the romance of classic racing bicycles.
Bianchi, established in Milan, Italy, in 1885, is the oldest continually operating bicycle manufacturer in the world. The company has a long history of innovation, including one of the earliest adoptions of Dunlop pneumatic tires, and its products extended beyond bicycles to include motorcycles and automobiles. Although the firm has produced a full line of bicycles, it has made its reputation in racing and a new offering from Corsa Classic, “The Vintage Bianchi Book,” celebrates that heritage.
In 1899 Bianchi made its first mark in international racing when Giovanni Tommaselli won the Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris on a Bianchi. While in 1911 the Giro d’Italia’s winner, Carlo Galetti rode to victory on one, the distinctive and iconic celeste colour did not appear until 1913. Bianchi went on to amass notable victories but reached its celebrated height when that stylish icon of cycling, Fausto Coppi, was so closely identified with the brand. Il Campionissimo’s likeness still speaks in the tradition-rich world of pro bike racing.
In the same spirit as Corsa Classic’s “The Cinelli Laser Project” (reviewed here), this latest book features detailed photographs of forty classic Bianchi racing bicycles covering seven decades, from the 1920s to the 1990s. These are the jewels of the astounding Bianchi collection of Carsten Rademacher in Germany, featuring bicycles ridden by some of pro racing’s biggest names: Rudi Altig, Felice Gimondi and, yes, Fausto Coppi.
Italian riders historically made their names on these Italian bikes but Jan Ullrich also achieved some success when Bianchi rescued the ailing Coast team in 2003 and he came his closest to defeating Lance Armstrong at the Tour de France. Sweden’s Magnus Backstedt won Paris-Roubaix on a wide-tired titanium Bianchi the following year. Of course, while the low-key Gianni Bugno won the 1990 Giro and the 1991 and 1992 Worlds while riding celeste bikes, more notorious was Marco Pantani, whose fragile aluminum Bianchis took him to victory in the 1998 Giro and Tour. But still, one tends to think of a Golden Age of Cycling when one thinks of Bianchi and this beautiful book is a tribute to that time when celeste ruled the roads and thee velodromes.
“The Vintage Bianchi Book” features excellent photographs by Dirk Rademacher and a trilingual text in German, Italian and English. The forty racing bicycles highlighted, from 1920 to 1990, range from standard production models to the top-of-the-line ones from the famous Reparto Corse workshop.
Bicycle collectors can look back over decades to choose their treasures and there is much love for Colnagos, Pogliaghis, Legnanos, Gios and so many other brands ridden with so much bravado. The celeste bicycles, with their eagle head tube badges (a nod to the company’s historical association with the House of Savoy) have a special place and “The Vintage Bianchi Book,” a beautiful publication, is a worthy tribute to them and the champions identified with them.
“The Vintage Bianchi Book” is a fine hardcover publication that will be released in a first edition of only 999 copies on October 8, 2025. Given how quickly the first edition of the Cinelli Laser book sold out, enthusiasts will want to pre-order a copy on the Corsa Classic website. (Note: the Italian postal service is not sending packages to the United States at the time of writing. There may be some waiting.)
The Vintage Bianchi Book” by Carsten Rademacher and Andrea Bonfanti, with photographs by Dirk Rademacher
350 pp., 500 photographs, hardbound, 17×24 cm, trilingual text
Price: 60 Euros (or 54 Euros when subscribing to the Corsa Classic newsletter)
To order and for further information: https://corsaclassic.com/
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