From July 4th to 6th, an artistic work dedicated to Ottavio Bottecchia, the first Italian to win the Tour de France, born in San Martino di Colle Umberto (TV), will be among the protagonists of the World Model Expo to be held in Versailles. In September, the artwork will be exhibited at the Ottavio Bottecchia Museum during the first historical reenactment.

Tiziana Gottardi, president of the Pro Loco of Colle Umberto: "An artistic work that is a concentration of energy and collaborations. A unique work, hand-painted and crafted, with an incredible research effort behind it"

Botescià, as he was known across the Alps, Ottavio Bottecchia, returns to France, the land that saw him win the Tour de France in 1924, the first Italian in history, repeating this achievement in July 1925. One hundred years later, Bottecchia, the cycling champion born in San Martino di Colle Umberto (TV), will be among the protagonists of the World Model Expo (WME), the world miniature exhibition that will be held from July 4th to 6th in Versailles. This is the largest international event dedicated to miniatures and artistic models that brings together, every four years, the best artists, sculptors, painters, and collectors from around the world for three days of passion, creativity, and encounters.

Among the artistic works on display, the one dedicated to Ottavio Bottecchia will stand out, the result of a collective collaboration that spans two Italian regions, Tuscany and Veneto, with various skills, from historical to artistic, and multiple souls, all united by the memory of the great champion, with a forward-looking perspective.

The idea of creating a work dedicated to Bottecchia was born months ago to Enrico Bertorino, an artist-painter from Florence, during the viewing of the documentary "El Furlan de fero" by Franco Bortuzzo for RaiSport, made to celebrate the centenary of Botescià's first Tour de France victory in 1924. Bertorino, fascinated by this legendary sporting figure from an era of heroic cycling, immediately thought of involving some members of the Gastarst association (Historical Artistic Research Group) he belongs to, particularly sculptor Alberto Acquaviva, historical details curator Laura di Liddo, and artistic director Luca Baldino.

The artistic work dedicated to Bottecchia began to take shape, starting with historical research on the champion that led the Tuscan artists to San Martino di Colle Umberto, where the Ottavio Bottecchia Museum was inaugurated in 2024 by the Pro Loco of Colle Umberto, interacting with its volunteers and many other people. The material provided by the Pro Loco, combined with Bottecchia's relatives' memories, became the basis for creating a faithful resin work, made at a 1:24 scale, with main figures 75 mm tall and hand-painted.

"We chose Bottecchia," recounts Tiziana Gottardi, president of the Pro Loco of Colle Umberto, explaining why the Tuscan artists thought of Botescià, "because they wanted a character with authentic values, a reference of Italian sports, an example of good practices and positivity to bring across the Alps. Moreover, Bottecchia is well-known in France. This is a one-of-a-kind work, with an incredible research effort behind it. Every detail, from the jersey color to the number of bicycle wheel spokes, is the result of meticulous study: everything has a truthful historical connection. Exactly one hundred years after his second Tour de France victory in July 1925, Bottecchia will triumphantly return to Paris with this miniature, accompanied by many people who have put a concentrated effort of energy and collaboration into this work."

The initiatives to commemorate the centenary will not end here: in September, the artwork, after a stop in the Netherlands, will be hosted in the Ottavio Bottecchia Museum, which, thanks to the work of many volunteers, has received numerous appreciations and continues to be visited by an average of one hundred people each month. Additionally, also in September, the first historical reenactment dedicated to our fellow citizen will be held in Colle Umberto. Two volunteers from the Pro Loco of Colle Umberto will be present at the three-day World Model Expo in Versailles as witnesses to this important event.