Company profile /
History
Born of Passion & Craftsmanship
Wilier Triestina began its rise to prominence as one of Italy’s preeminent brands in 1906 as Ciclomeccanica Dal Molin. Its main offices and factory have been located near the base of famed Giro climb Monte Grappa, sixty miles from Venice, ever since.
Pietro Dal Molin had shared the same passion that Lino Gastaldello and his father did when they acquired the brand in 1969. Together with his sons, Lino worked tirelessly to revive the brand in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
Origin & Pronunciation of the Name
Both Wilier and Triestina were inspired by Italian patriotism following the World Wars. Wilier is an acronym. W is an abbreviation for the word Viva, which means “Long live”, beginning the phrase: W l’Italia liberata e redenta – Long live Italy, liberated and redeemed. It is pronounced /Vee’-lee-air/.
Triestina is pronounced /Tree-es-tee’-na/ and is the Italian equivalent of our English word triestine, which implies related to the Italian city of Trieste on the Adriatic Sea. Following World War II, Trieste and its surrounding coastal area remained part of an occupied free territory while triestine cycling great and 3-time Giro winner, Giordano Cottur, was battling against fellow cycling greats Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali.
Inspired by Cottur and Trieste’s plight, Dal Molin put together a team with Cottur as leader, calling it Wilier Triestina. The brand’s inimitable halberd logo (similar to a fleur-de-lis) was inspired by Trieste’s coat of arms. In Autumn 1945, the company assumed the symbolic name. Wilier Triestina was born, distinguished by its unique copper colored models. The rest is history.
Post-War Periods
Following World War I, one of Dal Molin's sons – Mario – took the helm and grew the brand’s renown through the implementation of chrome and nickel-plating. Under Mario’s leadership, production increased considerably until World War II, which the company weathered relatively unscathed until it could resume regular production following the Armistice.
Team Wilier Triestina took to the first Giro following World War II, playing off the duel between great champions, Coppi and Bartali, while taking multiple stage wins. After those successes, Wilier became part of the great Italian landscape of professional and enthusiast cycling. The industrial boom of the times combined with the growing demand for Wilier bicycles precipitated expansion of Wilier’s staff as well as its facilities; production reached 200 bicycles a day supported by the efforts of 300 employees.
Brand of Champions
In 1947, Wilier brought on a promising young cyclist, Fiorenzo Magni. Instead of being lost in the shadow of the campionissimi, Magni became the third great protagonist in Italian cycling, winning the Giro in 1948. That same year, Wilier began distribution as far as South America, where a small team of local professional cyclists also won dozens of races.
The following season, the team collected several Italian domestic races as well as extending its renown to the Tour of Flanders and the Tour de France in 1949 and 1950.
Unfortunately, after the first phase of Italian reconstruction in the early '50s that brought about the “economic miracle,” people gave up bicycles in favor of scooters and motorbikes. Bicycle companies suffered the consequences of motorized progress, and in 1952 Wilier Triestina had to shut down operations.
Until 1969, when Lino Gastaldello and sons brought about Wilier’s own modern-day miracle – the brand, its bicycles and its champions you know today.
About Wilier Triestina USA
Wilier Triestina USA was founded in 2007 as a partnership between Wilier Triestina of Rossano Veneto (near Bassano del Grappa), Italy, and their United States importer, Velo Imports.
Wilier Triestina began its rise to prominence as one of Italy’s preeminent brands in 1906 as Ciclomeccanica Dal Molin. Its main offices and factory have been located near the base of famed Giro climb Monte Grappa, sixty miles from Venice, ever since.
Pietro Dal Molin had shared the same passion that Lino Gastaldello and his father did when they acquired the brand in 1969. Together with his sons, Lino worked tirelessly to revive the brand in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
Origin & Pronunciation of the Name
Both Wilier and Triestina were inspired by Italian patriotism following the World Wars. Wilier is an acronym. W is an abbreviation for the word Viva, which means “Long live”, beginning the phrase: W l’Italia liberata e redenta – Long live Italy, liberated and redeemed. It is pronounced /Vee’-lee-air/.
Triestina is pronounced /Tree-es-tee’-na/ and is the Italian equivalent of our English word triestine, which implies related to the Italian city of Trieste on the Adriatic Sea. Following World War II, Trieste and its surrounding coastal area remained part of an occupied free territory while triestine cycling great and 3-time Giro winner, Giordano Cottur, was battling against fellow cycling greats Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali.
Inspired by Cottur and Trieste’s plight, Dal Molin put together a team with Cottur as leader, calling it Wilier Triestina. The brand’s inimitable halberd logo (similar to a fleur-de-lis) was inspired by Trieste’s coat of arms. In Autumn 1945, the company assumed the symbolic name. Wilier Triestina was born, distinguished by its unique copper colored models. The rest is history.
Post-War Periods
Following World War I, one of Dal Molin's sons – Mario – took the helm and grew the brand’s renown through the implementation of chrome and nickel-plating. Under Mario’s leadership, production increased considerably until World War II, which the company weathered relatively unscathed until it could resume regular production following the Armistice.
Team Wilier Triestina took to the first Giro following World War II, playing off the duel between great champions, Coppi and Bartali, while taking multiple stage wins. After those successes, Wilier became part of the great Italian landscape of professional and enthusiast cycling. The industrial boom of the times combined with the growing demand for Wilier bicycles precipitated expansion of Wilier’s staff as well as its facilities; production reached 200 bicycles a day supported by the efforts of 300 employees.
Brand of Champions
In 1947, Wilier brought on a promising young cyclist, Fiorenzo Magni. Instead of being lost in the shadow of the campionissimi, Magni became the third great protagonist in Italian cycling, winning the Giro in 1948. That same year, Wilier began distribution as far as South America, where a small team of local professional cyclists also won dozens of races.
The following season, the team collected several Italian domestic races as well as extending its renown to the Tour of Flanders and the Tour de France in 1949 and 1950.
Unfortunately, after the first phase of Italian reconstruction in the early '50s that brought about the “economic miracle,” people gave up bicycles in favor of scooters and motorbikes. Bicycle companies suffered the consequences of motorized progress, and in 1952 Wilier Triestina had to shut down operations.
Until 1969, when Lino Gastaldello and sons brought about Wilier’s own modern-day miracle – the brand, its bicycles and its champions you know today.
About Wilier Triestina USA
Wilier Triestina USA was founded in 2007 as a partnership between Wilier Triestina of Rossano Veneto (near Bassano del Grappa), Italy, and their United States importer, Velo Imports.
Company profile
Gallery
Arrivederci Lino!
Emmanuel Zonta
PV
Search