The strong bond between Fausto Coppi and Somma Vesuviana, 80 years later

A 80 years after the events that marked the epic of the great champion Fausto Coppi, a group of 50 cycling enthusiasts decided to honor the memory of the Italian legend by retracing the route that the champion took every day from Caserta to Somma Vesuviana.

Angelo D'Avino, son of Giuseppe, the carpenter from Somma who donated the bicycle to the great Fausto Coppi, shares a precious family memory: “My father, a carpenter, donated his bicycle to Fausto Coppi in the 40s, thus offering him the opportunity to train.” D'Avino's emotion in remembering those days is palpable: “I was 8 years old when I saw Fausto Coppi and my father often spoke to me about him. Coppi was very reserved.”

“Unfortunately, my last memory is linked to his death. My father and I were on the balcony of our house, at Casamale, when the news of the passing of the great champion reached us and my father cried a lot”. The bond between Coppi and the D'Avino family was profound: “They had been friends since the 40s, when Coppi trained in Caserta and my father gave him a bicycle. Coppi pedaled every day from Caserta to Somma Vesuviana, crossing the alleys of Borgo del Casamale”.

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The day of commemoration took place with great participation in Somma Vesuviana, with the mayor praising the initiative and underlining the historical importance of the village: “Somma is a jewel rich in history and cultural heritage. Coppi loved to walk the streets of the historic center, and a short distance away is the Castle of Lucrezia D'Alagno, much loved by Totò”.

The Friends of Fausto Coppi Association, in collaboration with Friends in Bike, organized the event that saw cycling enthusiasts retrace Coppi's itinerary from Caserta to Somma Vesuviana. The race was enriched by the welcome of the Antonio Seraponte Band, in front of the Monumental Complex of Santa Maria del Pozzo.

During the day, participants had the opportunity to visit the wonderful Cloister, receiving greetings from local authorities. Among the participants was Angelo Damiano, Olympic champion who competed with Fausto Coppi, thus sealing a bond that goes beyond history and sport, touching the deepest chords of the Italian collective memory.