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Cycling pioneer with Illinois ties

A few weeks ago, I read a Velo News article about Joseph Magnani, an American bicycle racer who raced professionally for French and Italian teams from 1935 to 1948. Among his feats were winning the 1935 Marseille-Nice road race classic, which catapulted him to world-class stature and performing well in one-day classics such as Milan-San Remo.

What I found even more fascinating is that he spent his boyhood in Mount Clare, Ill. For those of you who don't know where Mount Clare is, it a tiny, old coal mining town in my native county, Macoupin County. It's nestled among three other old mining communities -- Benld, Gillespie and Wilsonville -- located about halfway between St. Louis and Springfield, Ill. In 1928, Magnani was sent to live in France, where he got involved in bicycle racing clubs.

Even though I also grew up in Macoupin County -- Brighton to be precise -- I had no idea who Joseph Magnani was until I read the Velo News article. I invite you to read Peter Joffre Nye's excellent account of Magnani's life here: http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/7566.0.html.

Roger 1 comments 2:59 PM

Comments:

Roger,

I don't know if you remember me, but I used to ride with you when you were with the Mid American Bicycle Club: Joe Booth, Ed Taylor, Mark Pace, et al. My name is Denise Ismari and Joseph Magnani was my father's uncle.

Say hi to everyone for me. You all can reach me at dki20@yahoo.com

Denise

# posted by  Unknown : 2:26 PM

 

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