Italian cycling great Michele Dancelli, who became famous for having broken a dry spell that plagued Italians from winning the Milano-San Remo Spring Classic since 1953, died at the age of 83 in a retirement home in Castenedolo (Brescia) this week.
The last victory by an Italian was that of Loretto Petrucci, who won La Primavera on March 19, 1953 by beating fellow countryman Romagnolo Minardi in a sprint for the second consecutive time. From there, in was sixteen long editions with foreigners on the podium, before Dancelli triumphed under blue skies on March 19, 1970.
“I was in an important breakaway after Novi Ligure with Van Loy, the two De Vlaeminck brothers, Godefroot, Karstens, Aldo Moser, Chiappano, Bitossi and Zilioli. Above all, Chiappano, my team-mate at Molteni, and I were pulling. After winning a flying finish in Loano, I went into a breakaway. There were 70 kilometers to go. It was crazy, but I had already done so much. At that point I couldn’t turn back. They never caught me again, I won with an average of 44/kph,” recounted Dancelli.
In addition to this Milan San Remo victory, Dancelli also won the 1966 Flèche Wallonne, three editions of the Giro dell’ Appennino (1965–1967) and two victories in the Trofeo Laigueglia (1968 and 1970). He also stood on the podium twice at the World Championship Road Race, after finishing 3rd behind Vittorio Adorni of Italy and Herman Van Springel of Belgium in 1968, and 3rd again the following year behind Harm Ottenbros of Holland and Julien Stevens of Belgium.
Danceilli also racked up an impressive 11 stages victories in the Giro d’Italia during his career, along with one stage victory in the 1969 Tour de France, as well as numerous wins in lesser-known races throughout Italy during the 1960’s and early 70’s such as the Coppa Sabatini, Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria, Giro del Veneto, Trofeo Laigueglia, Giro dell’Emilia, Coppa Placci and the Italian National Championships
Dancelli was described by Ernesto Colnago as “an instinctive, impulsive rider who did crazy things. He was convinced that the other riders just got in his way and that sooner or later they would have attacked him, so he attacked them first,” while the Italian journalist Gianni Mura dubbed him a “nomadic dreamer”.
For his part, Dancelli seemed comfortable with either assessment, a talented rider without the right mindset to make the most of it.
“I’ve always loved life,” he said. “If I’d had Gimondi’s mind, I’d have won everything, even the Grand Tours. I loved girls and the good life. Yes, I admit, I was a bit of a rascal,” Dancelli later admitted.
After hanging up his wheels, Dancelli went into real estate, later opening up a business of that organized cycling trips for amateur riders.
Riposa in pace Michele.
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