Från
http://www.battaglin.it/:
Giovanni Battaglin was born in Marostica on July 22nd,1951. In his professional career he attended 10 “Giro d'Italia” 6 “Tour de Suisse”. 5 “Tour de France”, 1 “Vuelta a España” and 8 World Road Race Championships. As amateur he achieved several victories, among those the “Giro d'Italia dilettanti” and the “Trofeo tricolore”.
In 1973, at his first “Giro d'Italia”, he achieved the third place, been remarked as road racer and climber, in the same year he became the best new professional thanks to several victories, among those the “Giro del Lazio”.
In 1974 he was the winner at “Giro dell'Appennino” and attended at his first “Tour de France”
Other Victories in 1975, when as captain of “jolly Ceramica” team he wore for 5 days the “maglia rosa” at the “Giro d'Italia” and obtained the Sabatini Cup. One year later, he won also a lap at the “Tour de France” (Caen). In 1978 he won the Bernocchi cup. In 1979, Battaglin was captain of the Inoxpran team and achieved several victories;such as “Trofeo Pantalica”, Placci Cup and Agostini Cup.
He won at “Tour de France” the special placing of climbers and earned the absolute sixth place.
In 1980 he won the “Milano-Vignola”, the Pecol lap at the “Giro d'Itlia”, the “Milano-Torino” and the Placci Cup. He won the third place at the “Giro d'Italia”.
In 1981 he won the “ Vuelta a España” winning also the time-trial.
It is the conquest of“Maglia Rosa” year: he won the 64th “Giro d'Italia” after been the leader on the mountains, achieving the winning post at the “S.Vigilio di Marebbe” lap.
Giovanni Battaglin is a champion gifted with the finest class, who could have reached higher and more prestigious goals if he would have had better fate.
His first appearance among Bigs remains clamorous, when as a rookie he competed against Merckx in his best season and against the indomitable Gimondi.
The best year was 1981 when he achieved one after the other in two months time the “Vuelta a España” and the “Giro d'Italia” , which he faced with responsible tactic sense and aplomb.
He has been a real champion, Giovanni Battaglin, a classy climber, talented for good performances against timing but his medal collection does not repay him.
Only a strong personality rider could resist to a series of incidents that cost him at least another “Giro d'Italia”, a first placement at “Tour de France” and maybe a World Road Race Championship in Valkenburg. However, Giovanni, purged all his bitternesses, with a prodigious season in 1981 achieving a doublet; “Vuelta a España” and the “Giro d'Italia”, which before him only Merckx was able to obtain.
In 1982, Battaglin started thinking to the future; he begun his activity as race bicycles producer.
He left competitive cycling two years later, but will never leave the cycling world.
