53 Gino’s physical decline Dewinter, “Gino the Pious,” 38–41.
54 “Life is like a Giro D’Italia” Gino Bartali interview with Marco Pastonesi in Costa, Gino Bartali, 173–80.
55 Gino’s funeral requests Alberati, Mille diavoli, 182.
56 praying that he would die peacefully at home Ibid.
57 Details of Gino’s death Pierangelo Di Sapegno, “Addio Bartali: Con lui l’Italia ha scalato il Dopoguerra,” La Stampa, May 6, 2000; “Bartali, lacrime e assenti ingiustificati,” Corriere della Sera, May 9, 2000.
58 “great sportsman” Archival video clip of John Paul II giving radio address, Tour des Légendes, a documentary about 1948 Tour de France, directed by Erik van Empel, Scarabee Films, 2003.
59 “Good-bye, Ginettaccio” “Addio Ginettaccio,” Corriere dello Sport, May 6, 2000: 1.
60 “When we were poor and weary” Maso, Wir Alle Waren Götter, 291. Maso and director Erik van Empel interviewed fans outside of the church during Bartali’s funeral for Empel’s documentary Tour des Légendes.
61 Description of the funeral “Cycling—Hundreds bid farewell to ‘eternal’ Bartali,” Reuters, May 8, 2000; Pierangelo Di Sapegno, “Addio Bartali: Con lui l’Italia ha scalato il Dopoguerra,” La Stampa, May 6, 2000; “Bartali, lacrime e assenti ingiustificati,” Corriere della Sera, May 9, 2000.
Acknowledgments
The idea for this book sprang from a conversation we had in 2002 shortly after Andres spent a memorable day watching the Tour de France and savoring the carnival atmosphere created by thousands of cheering, clapping, and, often, mildly inebriated cycling fans. The most lasting memory of that day was the brute strength and endurance of men who brave the elements and cycle thousands of miles over the course of three weeks. When we spoke soon after, we kept returning to the topic of the incredible physical toll of cycling, especially on those who race the Tour many times throughout their life. We started looking in to some of the historic Tour greats and became fascinated by the Italian cyclist Gino Bartali. In a sport that celebrates endurance, he endured longer than most others, winning the Tour at twenty-four and then again at thirty-four. When we delved deeper and learned about the ways he used his bicycle between those victories—to help save lives during World War II—we discovered how rich and multifaceted his life had been and realized that his story needed to be shared with a much wider audience.
Writing this book has been an endurance event of another sort. Over our multiyear journey, we owe a significant debt of gratitude to all the people who helped us see it to completion. Adriana and Andrea Bartali were profoundly generous with their time, speaking candidly and answering questions about Gino for hours during different interviews, and showing us key Florentine landmarks from Gino’s life. They never tried to influence the angle of our work, wisely acknowledging in their first interview that readers would be best served if the book retained total journalistic independence. Gino’s surviving teammates and training partners (with whom he said that he had spent almost as much time as his family) were similarly magnanimous, patiently guiding us through the minutiae of their experiences living and competing with Gino. We extend our thanks particularly to Giovanni Corrieri and his nephew Marco; Alfredo Martini; and Ivo Faltoni, who all went above and beyond to share their memories and photographs of their time with Gino.
Giorgio Goldenberg deserves a special note of gratitude for speaking at length about how Gino helped him and his family during the war. Eldad Doron, the husband of Giorgio’s late sister, Tea, kindly recounted various memories Tea had shared with him of her life in hiding during World War II. In Assisi, Padre Pier Damiano and Suor Eleonora Bifarini shared their wartime memories of seeing and speaking with Gino respectively. Giulia Donati, an Italian Holocaust survivor, and Renzo Ventura, the son of survivors, generously answered questions about Gino’s involvement in their families’ wartime experiences. Other survivors including Giorgina Rietti, Cesare Sacerdoti, Graziella Viterbi, Gianna Maionica, Hella Kropf, Claudia Maria Amati, and Lya Haberman Quitt gracefully helped illuminate the diverse and evolving circumstances of the broader Jewish community in Italy throughout this difficult period.
Raffaele Marconi and Maria Pagnini, historians and librarians at the Bagno a Ripoli library, proved invaluable when it came to answering questions about the world of Ponte a Ema and Florence during Gino’s youth. Dr. Iael Nidam-Orvieto, editor in chief of Yad Vashem publications, answered many contextual questions about the Holocaust in Italy. Harry Waldman shared his photos and memories of Trento Brizi when Trento received the Freedom of the Press Award organized by the Graphic Arts Association under the leadership of its president Walter Zerweck. At the Library of Congress, David Kelly, a reference specialist, helped us navigate the library’s impressive collection of World War II–era Italian and French newspapers. Dr. Benjo Maso, a former sociology professor and cycling historian, who is a leading authority regarding the 1948 Tour de France, proved an unparalleled resource regarding all cycling topics.
Collectively, these individuals and all the other people we interviewed have helped us make Road to Valor a richer book. Any mistakes that remain, however, are our own.
Our research was aided by several gifted individuals. Journalist Gaia Pianigiani worked doggedly and deftly to help us interview dozens of Italians and investigate archives throughout Italy. In the United States, Ken Fockele, Ilan Shahar, and Lindsay Eufusia offered assistance translating materials from German, Hebrew, and Italian. Anne-Laure Bourquin, Corinna Lautenbach, Virginia Napoleone, and Marina Rytvin helped us carry out different research initiatives in France, Germany, Italy, and Israel.
In New York, our agent Peter McGuigan, a longtime cyclist, offered wise counsel (and good cycling tips) throughout the research and writing of this book. He answered questions at all hours of the day and guided this project with ease through a rapidly changing publishing environment. His associates at Foundry Literary + Media, particularly Stéphanie Abou, have also been tireless advocates of this book. At Crown Publishers, Charlie Conrad has been a model editor, offering equal measures of insightful criticism and comforting assurance. His sound judgment and deep understanding of Italian culture have enriched our work. His colleague Miriam Chotiner-Gardner skillfully shepherded the manuscript through production.
The assistance of friends, near and far, has been considerable. Karen Murphy reviewed our proposal and provided astute suggestions for improving it. In Paris, Bernard and Chantal Bourquin offered up the inimitable comforts of their home as a research base. In Buenos Aires, Carlos Layus tracked down two evocative photos of Gino. Lia Kaljurand used her design talents to help undo the ravages of time for photographs that survived World War II. Liz Appel, Mart Kaljurand, Kristi Laar, and Sam McHugh read drafts and offered thoughtful critical feedback. Both a sounding board for research ideas and a source of excellent editorial commentary, Benjamin Eachus championed the project when it was just a nascent idea.
In Italy, Kiiri Sandy, a professional translator, proved herself to be a selfless friend and this project’s most valued contributor. During the course of our work, she always found time to help with translations, revealing her impressive grasp of the linguistic nuances of military, cycling, and other technical terminology. She also helped us coordinate interviews, located many photographs, and edited countless drafts. Taken together, her efforts made our work easier and the book much stronger.
Lastly, we wish to acknowledge the immeasurable support of our family. Peter Adamson was an energetic advocate of this project. Our cousin, Bernadette Cousins, welcomed us with open arms into her home in England so we could get back and forth to France and Italy easily. Aili’s husband, Geoff, an avid cyclist, offered sage editorial suggestions on several drafts, and became a proponent of this book long before it found a publisher. Our brothers, Peter, Thomas, and Paul, their wives Robyn, Lindsay, and Amanda, and their respective growing broods, have been unwavering in their enthusiasm. Our final thanks go to our mother, Mari-Ann, and late
father, Joseph, who first nurtured our shared interest in history and literature.
Photo and Illustration Credits
col1.1: © STP/AFP/Getty Images; 1.1: © Roman Sigaev/shutterstock.com; 2.1: © ANSA under licence to Alinari Archives; 3.1: Photo courtesy of Giovanni Corrieri; 4.1: © Luce Institute/Alinari Archives Management; 5.1: Random House; 6.1: © PUBLIFOTO/OLYCOM; 7.1: Photos courtesy of Giorgio Goldenberg; 8.1: Photo courtesy of Aili and Andres McConnon; 9.1: © Alinari Archives; 10.1: © The Horton Collection; 11.1: Courtesy of Biblioteca Panizzi; 12.1: © Toscani Archive/Alinari Archives Management; 13.1: Random House; 14.1: © OLYCOM; epl.1: © Photoservice Electa/Centro Documentazione Mondadori
INSERT
photo credit i1: Courtesy of Giorgio Goldenberg; photo credit i2: © PUBLIFOTO/OLYCOM; photo credit i3: © Interfoto/Alinari Archives, photo credit i4: Courtesy of Biblioteca Panizzi; photo credit i5: Courtesy of Giorgio Goldenberg; photo credit i6: Reproduced under authorization of El Gráfico magazine, Argentina; photo credit i7: Courtesy of Aili and Andres McConnon, photo credit i8: Courtesy of the Graphic Arts Association; photo credit i9: Reproduced under authorization of El Gráfico magazine, Argentina; photo credit i10: © ANSA under licence to Alinari Archives
About the Authors
Aili McConnon is a Canadian journalist based in New York. She has written for BusinessWeek, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Guardian. She has appeared on ABC, MSNBC, and CNN, and has earned degrees from Princeton University, the University of Cambridge, and Columbia University.
Andres McConnon graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University, where he majored in history. He previously worked as a historical researcher for several books. While researching and writing Road to Valor, he lived for a period in Paris and Florence, and on the Italian Riviera. Aili and Andres can be reached via the Internet at www.roadtovalorbook.com.
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