Type Private Area served Worldwide Founder Pietro Dal Molin Headquarters Rossano Veneto, Italy | Industry Bicycles Website wilier.it Founded 1906 | |
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Products Bicycles and related components Profiles | ||
The story of wilier triestina
Wilier Triestina (['viliːˌɛː ˌtriːɛs'tiːna]) is an Italian manufacturer of racing bicycles, founded in 1906 by Pietro Dal Molin in Bassano del Grappa, Italy. They are now based in Rossano Veneto, Italy.
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Wilier triestina gtr sl bike of the year winner 2000 2750
History
Wilier Triestina got its start in a modest workshop on the banks of the river Brenta in San Fortunato by Pietro Dal Molin from Bassano del Grappa, Italy in the summer of 1906.
The company name originated as an acronym for the phrase “W l’Italia liberata e redenta”, where the W is an abbreviation for "Viva!" (Long live Italy, liberated and redeemed). Triestina comes from the name of the city of Trieste. When Wilier was founded, Trieste was not part of Italy; the name 'Wilier Triestina' reflected a patriotic desire for it to be rejoined.
The famous Italian cyclist Fiorenzo Magni rode Wilier bikes in his 1948 Giro d'Italia win as well as his 1949 and 1950 Tour of Flanders wins.
Marco Pantani rode the 1997 Tour de France on a Wilier.
More recently World Champion Alessandro Ballan and runner up Damiano Cunego rode Wilier bicycles to victory in the 2008 UCI Road World Championships.