Breitling's tribute to a legendary rivalry

The sporting rivalry between Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali transcended war, politics, and history—all on a bicycle. This month, Breitling paid tribute to their heirtagThe legendary brand with a pair of limited-edition watches. Discover the story of the greatest rivalry in the world of cycling.

Source: press release

In sports, individual feats—goals scored or trophies won—fill the record books and, over time, create a kind of aura around the men and women who achieve them. The ancient Greeks and Romans already idolized their athletes, and millennia later, we continue to do so.

But champions cannot exist without competition. They need competition. They need rivals. In modern times, we think of Ali vs. Frazier in boxing, Palmer vs. Nicklaus in golf, Federer vs. Nadal in tennis, or Messi vs. Ronaldo in soccer.

For cycling enthusiasts, however, only one rivalry rises to the rank of legend: Coppi vs. Bartali. These two extraordinary athletes aroused incredible fervor in the mid-20th century, and not only in Italy, their native country, where the tifosi were divided into two camps: the Bartaliani and the Coppiani. True European superstars, they were also ambassadors for the Breitling brand, a rare partnership for the time.

This month, Breitling paid tribute to them with a pair of limited-edition watches celebrating their epic rivalry. Let's dive into the history that made them legendary. Gino Bartali, in addition to numerous other victories, won the Giro d'Italia three times (1936, 1937, 1946) and the Tour de France twice (1938, 1948). Fausto Coppi, also a multiple champion and a true reference in post-World War II cycling, won the Giro five times (1940, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953) and the Tour de France twice (1949, 1952).
Statistics, however, only tell part of the story.

Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali, opposites attract and the birth of a great rivalry

Bartali, born near Florence in 1914, was a conservative and devout Catholic who recited his prayers while cycling. Coppi, born further north in Castellania (now Castellania Coppi) in 1919, was a free spirit, secular and nonconformist.

Bartali had a broad, boxer-like face and an imposing physique, while the more slender Coppi had the charm of an actor. Bartali lived a long life, passing away in 2000 at the age of 85. Coppi died young, at just 40, from malaria, contracted during a trip to Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso).

Their personal differences were reflected on the national stage, because in Italy, cycling was much more than a sport: it was a matter of identity, pride, and even politics. So much so that Mussolini waited until the end of the 1940 Giro d'Italia to declare war. For Coppi and Bartali, the war years would reveal just how divergent their paths truly were.

Coppi joined the Italian army, was captured in North Africa, and spent time in prisoner-of-war camps before distancing himself from the regime. Bartali, for his part, belonged to the Azione Cattolica—the only non-nationalist organization Mussolini allowed—and refused to enlist. Instead, he “trained” alone across the countryside: long sorties that were actually cover for a far more dangerous mission.

The two men who wore Italy's colours were each champions, but they couldn't have been more different..

The story goes that hidden in the frame, saddle, and handlebars of his bicycle were forged identity papers. Bartali discreetly delivered them to Italian Jews, who were threatened with deportation and death. He never spoke of it publicly, revealing only rare snatches to his sons. Today, the extent of his courage is fully appreciated: he is honored with the title of "Righteous Among the Nations" for saving more than 800 lives and sheltering the family of a Jewish friend.

Although Coppi and Bartali have always been "frenemies", theytagThey shared much more than a competitive spirit. Their stories were also marked by grief, leading to an act of sporting truce that moved millions across Italy. The previous year, Coppi's younger brother, Serse, also a professional cyclist, had died in a racing accident. Bartali, too, had lost a brother in a cycling accident. For a brief moment, grief brought them closer.

On a sweltering day during the 1952 Tour de France, on the steep slopes of the Col d'Izoard, theytaggave a bottle of water. This simple but symbolic gesture was immortalized in a photograph published in Lo Sport Illustrato. This image has remained etched in the collective Italian memory. Even today, it embodies not only rivalry, but also camaraderie, empathy, and the understated elegance of simple human decency.

Willy Breitling's entrance

The fame of Coppi and Bartali, like the growing popularity of cycling, did not escape Willy Breitling. In 1937, the young entrepreneur made Breitling the official sponsor of the Tour de Suisse. Numerous partnerships followed, and in the postwar years, cycling became a welcome escape from the suffering left by World War II.

Willy Breitling, himself a passionate sportsman, was a fervent admirer of the discipline (although less fanatical than Benito Benaglio, the Italian distributor of Breitling, who regularly offered watches to the two campionissimi). Drawn to the thrill and romance of racing, he saw cycling as the epitome of endurance, perseverance and elegance.

Willy Breitling (leaning over a racing car, left) was a staple of cycling competitions, while Breitling's famous pink van served as a mobile boutique—unmissable!

Breitling quickly became the official timekeeper of Europe's biggest cycling events: the Tour de France, the Flèche Wallonne, Milan-San Remo, and the Giro d'Italia. In archival photos, Willy appears leaning out of an open-top pace car or sitting in his own Delahaye convertible, sporting a headdress reminiscent of that of the French Foreign Legion. A visionary and savvy businessman, he also knew how to play with spectacle, always ensuring the presence of a Breitling van on site. This mobile boutique, painted pink to attract attention, allowed spectators to purchase watches directly at the heart of the event.

In the 1950s, Breitling even launched a limited edition dedicated to the Giro d'Italia. These watches, all stamped with the reference number 1190, represented a sporty variation of the elegant Premier collection. Equipped with a Venus 188 lever chronograph caliber instead of the Venus 175 column wheel, they embodied the brand's spirit of performance and elegance.

Tribute to the Campionissimi

Breitling's affiliation with the two cycling legends ended in the mid-1950s, but Coppi and Bartali were never forgotten. This month marks the release of two commemorative Breitling Top Time watches. This collection of boldly designed chronographs is the closest, in terms of aesthetics, to the ref. 1190 Giro d'Italia editions of the 1950s.
The Top Time B01 Fausto Coppi features turquoise counters on a white dial, echoing the colors of Coppi's bike. While the Top Time B01 Gino Bartali sports a blue dial with yellow accents, inspired by his illustrious jersey.

The two 750-piece limited editions proudly display the nicknames of legendary cyclists on the tachymeter scale: “Il Campionissimo” (Champion of Champions) for Coppi, and “L'Intramontabile” (The Timeless) for Bartali. Their signatures at six o'clock add a personal and timeless touch. And if you look more closely, a final tribute is revealed: fine brushed lines on the subdials, symbolizing two parallel paths—those of two legends who, despite the passing of time, will continue to ride together.

The Top Time Coppi & Bartali limited editions are available in store or on breitling.com.

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