Francesco Moser Photo Gallery
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Francesco Moser (born June 19, 1951) was the most gifted and driven of the four cycling Moser brothers (the others were Aldo, Enzo and Diego). After winning the Girobio (the amateur Giro d'Italia) in 1971, the cycling world knew a fine talent was coming to the professional ranks. His abilites were made clear in just his second year as a professional (1974) when he won Paris-Tours, the Tours of Emilia, Tuscany and Piedmont, was second in Paris-Roubaix and seventh in the Giro d'Italia and the World Championships. He was one of the most accomplished and winning riders of his generation.
He went on to win the World Road Championship, the Giro d'Italia, Paris-Roubaix three times and was the World Hour Record holder for years. Eventually the UCI created a seperate category for Hour Records gained with aerodynamic equipment such as what Moser used in 1984.
His long-lasting feud with Giuseppe Saronni was the last great Italian cycling rivalry. There were also sparks between Moser and Roger de Vlaeminck, especially after they were both on the Sanson team in 1978.
Moser was a big, powerful man who could dominate Classics and time trials, but was at a disadvantage in the high mountains.
Major victories:
1974: Paris-Tours, Coppa Bernocchi, Giro di Toscana, Giro del Piemonte, Giro dell'Emilia, Trofeo Baracchi (with Roy Schuiten)
1975: Coppa Placci, two Tour de France stages, Giro di Lombardia, Trofeo Baracchi (with G.B. Baronchelli), GP du Midi Libre (both GC and points) Italian Road Championship
1976: Giro dell'Appennino, Giro di Toscana, Tre Valli Varesine, Trofeo Pantalica, Giro d'Italia points classification with three stage wins, World Pursuit Championship
1977: Coppa Agostoni, Flèche Wallonne, Critérium des As, Giro del Lazio, Giro di Toscana, Meisterschaft von Zürich, Giro d'Italia points classification, World Road Championship
1978: Coppa Sabatini, Giro del Lazio, Tre Valli Varesine, Tour of Catalonia with 3 stage wins, Paris-Roubaix, GP Industria/Larciano, Giro d'Italia points classification with 4 stage wins, Tour de l'Aude, Giro di Lombardia, World Pursuit Championship
1979: Giro del Friuli, Giro del Veneto, Paris-Roubaix, Gent-Wevelgem, Tour de l'Aude, Giro dell'Emilia, 3 stages in the Giro d'Italia
1980: Paris-Roubaix, Tirreno-Adriatico, Italian Pursuit Championship
1981: Tirreno-Adriatico, Coppa Agostoni, Italian Road and Pursuit Championships
1982: Giro di Toscana, Tour de Midi Pyrérées
1983: Milano-Torino, Milano-Vignola, Giro del Friuli, Giro di Campania
1984: Giro d'Italia with 4 stage wins, Milano-San Remo, Trofeo Baracchi (with Bernard Hinault), World Hour Record, Italian Pursuit Championship
1985: Giro dell'Appennino, Trofeo Baracchi (with Hans-Henrik Orsted)
1987: Italian Pursuit Championship
Professional Teams:
1973-1975: Filotex
1976-1978: Sanson
1979: Sanson-Luxor
1980: Sanson-Campagnolo
1981-1982: Famcucine
1983: Gis Gelati
1984: Gis Gelati-Tuc Lu
1985: Gis Gelati
1986: Supermercati Brianzoli
1987: Supermercati Brianzoli-Chateau d'Ax
1988: Chateau d'Ax
Nicknames: Checco, The Sherrif (Lo Sceriffo)
Photos:
Francesco Moser in the 1975 Coppa Sabatini
Moser in stage 19 of the 1976 Giro d'Italia
Looks like crunch time at the 1976 Coppa Placci. Moser (Italian Champion's jersey) looks like he's being followed by Felice Gimondi and Roger de Vlaeminck
1977 Giro d'Italia: Francesco Moser leads Freddy Maertens
Moser in 1976 in his rainbow jersey
1979 Giro d'Italia, stage 6: Moser time trial up to San Marino.
Moser at the 1979 Coppa Placci
Moser (in green jersey) riding the 1980 Coppa Placci
Moser at the 1981 Coppa Placci
Moser signs autographs at the 1983 Giro dell'Emilia
1984 Giro d'Italia: Moser in pink
Moser in action during the 1984 Giro d'Italia
Stage 20 of the 1984 Giro. This might be after the stage because Moser started it in pink.
Moser arrives at the end of the final stage of the 1984 Giro d'Italia
Moser has just won the 1984 Giro d'Italia.
Moser riding the 1984 Barcelona World Road Championships. That looks like Phil Anderson on his wheel.
Moser after the 1985 Milano-San Remo
Moser rides the 1985 Giro d'Italia prologue
Stage 2 of the 1985 Giro was a team time trial ending on the Vigorelli velodrome. Here Moser in pink leads.
Moser at stage 16 of the 1985 Giro d'Italia
Moser time trialing to Lucca stage 22 of the 1985 Giro d'Italia
Moser races Paris-Roubaix in 1986
Moser at the 1987 Tirreno-Adriatico prologue
A rainy day at the 1987 Giro di Toscana
1990 Giro d'Italia: Moser with Gianni Bugno
Old rivals. Giuseppe Saronni and Francesco Moser at the 1990 Milano-Torino.
2005 Paris-Roubaix: Francsco Moser on the podium with Tom Boonen
Heroes of Paris-Roubaix at the 2005 edition, from left: Gilbert Duvlos-Lassalle, Bernard Hinault, Andrea and Mrs. Tafi, Francesco Moser
The Mosers at the Roubaix Velodrome during the 2009 Paris-Roubaix