One hundred kilometers team time trial, a magical, electrifying specialty. It highlighted the qualities of the passists and especially in the early '90s, the Italian cycling medal table. At the World Championships in Stuttgart 1991, Flavio Anastasia, Luca Colombo, Gianfranco Contri, and Andrea Peron won gold. At Oslo 1993, Rossano Brasi, Rosario Fina, Contri, and Cristian Salvato conquered gold in the "100". At Palermo 1994, the last edition of the World Championship in this specialty, with an Italian victory by Dario Andriotto, Colombo, Salvato, Contri. And it must be remembered the silver medal at the Barcelona '92 Olympics with Anastasia, Contri, Colombo, and Peron. Also adding the various gold medals at the Mediterranean Games.

Medals obtained riding Colnago bicycles tested in wind tunnels and even in Ferrari Formula 1 laboratories. Yesterday morning, an important group of 100-kilometer team specialists met Ernesto Colnago. Naturally, the meeting with the most popular bicycle builder took place in the "La Collezione" museum in Cambiago, on the outskirts of Milan.

On this occasion, Alessandro Brambilla Colnago, Ernesto's nephew and deus-et-machina of the La Collezione Museum, highlighted the bicycles used to win gold medals in the early '90s, those with a 28-inch rear wheel and a 24-inch front wheel, with a revolutionary frame design. Andrea Peron, Cristian Salvato, Luca Colombo, Gianfranco Contri, Rosario Fina, Dario Andriotto, and the historic team manager Antonio Fusi met the bicycle master. With them was also the Bergamo native Andrea Dolci, who, although not part of the gold medal-winning quartets at the World Championships, had some great satisfactions with the National team time trial. Excused absences were Rossano Brasi, now residing in France, and Flavio Anastasia. Even the mechanic Pavarin was moved seeing the jewels he used to check during National team trips.

Beautiful memories emerged, concerning technical tests on the Fiorano Modenese track, the same used for Ferrari Formula 1 tests. "I met Ernesto Colnago when I was 15 years old," revealed Antonio Fusi, who in particular was the team manager for professional, amateur, and under-23 Italian teams, "and I'm happy to see him now, here, among all these wonders".

Clearly, Colnago's Museum has a remarkable impact on enthusiasts. Cristian Salvato carefully observed the bike used by Franco Ballerini to triumph at Paris-Roubaix 1995. "When I pedaled on Colnago bikes," said Salvato, now president of the Professional Cyclists Association, "I always won gold medals. Instead, at Roubaix 1995, when Franco won with this jewel, I finished last". It should be duly specified that Cristian was a neo-professional in 1995. "In this Museum, there are my joys and also the memory of a difficult race," Salvato added.

Anecdotes between Contri, Colombo, and other team time trial champions multiplied. "Do you remember when we tried the bikes with water bottles behind the seat?" "My God, how you went into the last curve of the 100 kilometers in Oslo", "In the photo, I'm in first position because I always pulled", "How nice when we were about to catch the French", "At the training camp in Caltanissetta, before the 1994 World Championship, you were going like a motorcycle"...

By popular acclaim, Ernesto Colnago recounted the genesis of the professional relationship with Ferrari in Maranello, the "Drake" Enzo, engineer Forghieri, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, and other executives. Indelible memories. Salvato donated to Ernesto Colnago the Italian National team jersey used at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The "100" azzurri signed several posters and other memorabilia. And Colnago reciprocated with beautiful books.

The light of the 100-kilometer team time trial specialty went out after the World Championship in Palermo with the final rush at the Zen Velodrome. Since then, the World Championship for National teams has not been held. How wonderful it would be if the light of the 100 kilometers for National teams were to be reignited. Unfortunately, it is difficult, if not impossible. Colombo, Contri, Peron, and the other specialists have entered our hearts. Thank you guys for the beautiful cycling you gave us!