Wilier Triestina’s Lino Gastaldello, Remembered
Two weeks ago, the sad news of the passing of Lino Gastaldello, who revived the Wilier Triestina brand, filtered throughout the cycling world. Along with his sons, Signore Gastaldello had run the company over the past three decades, but was tragically killed while out riding his bike in San Zenone degli Ezzelini, Italy at the end of January.
For The Love Of Cycling
Lino Gastaldello was born in Rossano Veneto on March 20, 1938, one of five brothers. From the time he was a child, the legendary Wilier Triestina cycling team captivated him. The squad was named to honor the city of Trieste, and the great champion Fiorenzo Magni led the team to a Giro d’Italia victory right after WWII. It was also the squad of other legendary riders, such as Cottur, the Maggini brothers, and Toni Bevilacqua.
Lino’s father Giovanni Gastaldello worked at the bicycle factory, which eventually integrated the team name into their brand identity. Wilier Triestina was originally founded under the name Ciclomeccanica Dal Molin in 1906, flourishing for half a century before a combination of adverse circumstances forced them to close their doors for several years.
When Giovanni Gastaldello and his sons Lino and Antonio had the opportunity to acquire the historic brand, the family jumped at the chance. The Gastaldellos paid 1,000,000 Italian Lire (about $700 or €520 in today’s currency), and became the new owners of one of cycling’s most celebrated patrimonies: Wilier Triestina.
The immense challenge of reviving a brand after years of struggle was all the more daunting due to the brothers’ artisan background with no formal training in business and management. The first step was to select the machinery that was still operational from the old factory and move it to the “new facility” – the family’s former residence on Via Stazione.
They began with the production of brazed and lugged steel frames – at that time the material and handmade manufacturing process of choice. In the beginning, they painted frames using popular colors, but soon realized that they needed to bring back Wilier’s trademark copper from the 40’s and 50’s. And so the gioelli ramati (“copper jewels”) returned to the roads of the brand’s home in the Veneto region, as well as to greater Italy. Production increased, the first employees of the new era were hired, and Wilier Triestina’s legacy was about to experience a full‐blown rebirth.
At the same time that the Gastaldello brothers were rebuilding the brand, Lino was building a family. In 1965, he had married Elisa, and out of their union would be born their daughter, Valeria, and three sons: Enrico, Michele and Andrea.
Wilier Triestina’s big break came in 1979, when former sprinter Dino Zandegù convinced the Gastaldellos to supply bikes to the Mecap Hoonved team, including famed Italian rider Mario Beccia. From then on, the story of the “new” Wilier Triestina was one of growth and success as a business as well as passionate sponsorship of cycling. In 1989, Lino Gastaldello formed the corporation Wilier Triestina SpA, serving as its president. Today, the company is known throughout the world for the quality and performance of its products.
Brand of Champions
Wilier Triestina’s fame has always been linked to the achievements of great champions. The first sponsorship of the Gastaldello era was the Mecap Hoonved team in 1979, resulting in a Giro d’Italia stage win by Mario Beccia. In 1981, it was Team Selle San Marco with Alfio Vandi winning the Coppa Placci. No truly prestigious palmarès resulted from sponsorship of Selle San Marco (1982), Mareno (1983) and Supermercati Brianzoli (1984), but success was just around the corner. In 1985, Claudio Corti of Supermercati Brianzoli won the Italian National Road Championship, as well as the Giro di Umbria and the Giro di Romagna.
After a pause, Wilier Triestina reentered professional cycling in a big way in 1995 as sponsor of Team Brescialat. Massimo Podenzana won the Giro di Toscana and Mariano Piccoli won stage 15 of the Giro d’Italia. In 1997, the brand would experience an historic year as Wilier became the official sponsor of Mercatone Uno, who had signed the legendary Marco Pantani. Il Pirata was reaching the peak of his career after recovering from serious injuries. He had a breakout performance in the ’97 Tour de France, winning the Alpe d’Huez and Morzine stages, as well as 3rd overall.
More victories came in 1999, now with Team Liquigas: Davide Rebellin won Tirreno‐Adriatico and other races while Serhiy Honchar won the World Time Trial Championships. In 2003, Wilier sponsored both Team Lampre and Team Gerolsteiner. Francesco Casagrande was Lampre’s co‐leader along with reigning World Champion Igor Astarloa, while Rebellin led Gerolsteiner, racking up several victories. In 2004, Rebellin pulled off an historic triple at the Ardennes Classics, winning Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallone, and Liege‐Bastogne‐Liege. The following two seasons saw Cofidis riders David Moncoutie win a Tour de France stage and Leonardo Bertagnolli win a Vuelta a Espana stage astride Wilier Triestina race machines.
Over the last few years, a close relationship has formed between the company and Team and Lampre – led by Damiano Cunego , and formerly, Alessandro Ballan – whose riders have served as the ultimate testers for Wilier’s top‐end models. Memorable exploits include Ballan’s 2007 Tour of Flanders, Cunego’s 2008 Amstel Gold, and Cunego’s 2007 and 2008 Giro di Lombardia victories. The ultimate confirmation of Wilier Triestina’s efforts in R&D and ProTour‐level validation came in September 2008, when Lampre and Italian national squad teammates Ballan and Cunego took first and second at the World Road Race Championships, winning gold and silver for Italy – and Wilier.
A Family Company That Will Carry On Lino's Legacy
Over ten years ago, Lino handed over direction of the company to his sons whom he had already trained and worked alongside for several years. As most Wilier fans know, Lino was still involved, carrying the title of President and sitting on the family‐chaired board of directors. Although Lino liked to be involved with sponsorship (he and his family originally motivated Lampre to sign the young and yet unproven Ballan by paying half of the new rider’s salary his first season) and the presentation of new models, his passion had always remained focused on the artisanal side of making bicycles. His heart was forever rooted in the technical and handcrafted aspects of frame building.
Lino had always been an active cyclist and loved everything about bicycles, riding and racing. In 2009, he led a group of local riders who took part in the Granfondo of Flanders. Just a few days before his death, he and his family had celebrated the 20th anniversary of the formation of Wilier Triestina SpA, his masterpiece. Although he still carried the title of President, he spent most of every day in his black mechanic’s shirt in the workshop.
Up until the very end, Lino Gastaldello was building bicycles with the same passion that had proven so contagious 40 years earlier.
The landing page of their corporate website currently features a farewell to Lino. It includes mention of bicycling industry personalities, political leaders and champions past & present who attended his memorial services, as well as a note of thanks to all who have conveyed condolences. There is also info on how to make donations to help children in Haiti in Lino’s honor.
Photos: Courtesy Wilier Triestina
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