The world of professional cycling is filled with legendary nicknames like “The Eagle of Toledo” and “The Human Locomotive.” Now, a charming new book introduces us to another, perhaps less universally known, but equally significant moniker: “The Lion of Zoppas.” This title refers to Giuseppe Soldi, an Italian rider whose story, while perhaps fading from mainstream fame, remains vivid in the memories of those who knew him.
Born in 1940, Giuseppe Soldi hailed from a modest family in the Po Valley. He joined a local cycling club at fifteen and quickly demonstrated a natural talent. His early success as a junior, including winning the prestigious Coppa Dondeo in 1958, suggested a bright future in professional racing. However, his promising trajectory was interrupted by a serious crash at the age of twenty, requiring a year to recover. Further setbacks included two years of compulsory military service, during which he was unfortunately assigned to a firefighting unit rather than a sports-focused detachment, a decision he later regretted.
Returning to racing in 1964, Soldi joined the G.S. Zoppas club in Cremona. Under the guidance of sports director Giosafatta Orlandelli, he regained his form, achieving 38 (or possibly 40) wins by 1965. This remarkable performance earned him a place on the Italian national team as one of four amateurs selected for the team time trial at the UCI World Championships in Spain that year. The book recounts the rigorous training regimen leading up to the event, including a remarkable forty days spent practicing on the course before the race itself.
Despite facing challenging weather conditions, including heavy rain and near-hurricane winds, the Italian team secured victory in the team time trial. Giuseppe Soldi, the eldest member of the team, rode without incident, contributing to their win and earning him a coveted Rainbow Jersey and widespread acclaim in Cremona.
The following year, Soldi turned professional with the esteemed Bianchi team. His professional career was brief and somewhat bittersweet. After a discouraging experience at Milan-Sanremo, where he was outpaced by riders like Eddy Merckx, Soldi, feeling tired and disappointed, abandoned the race. This led to a reprimand from his sports director and a premature end to his professional cycling career. He subsequently worked as a bank employee for the remainder of his professional life.
However, Soldi’s connection to cycling was not entirely severed. A decade later, he returned to racing as an amateur, achieving significant success with over 150 wins, including multiple Italian Banking Championships. His passing in July 2025 was met with a heartfelt outpouring of affection from those who remembered his warmth, simplicity, and quiet demeanor. Despite never seeking the spotlight, he achieved the ultimate success in cycling.
“The Lion of Zoppas” was written by Luca Soldi, Giuseppe’s son. In a touching tribute, Luca and his son Nicolo decided that Giuseppe’s Rainbow Jersey should be shared with the cycling community. It is now proudly displayed at the Museo del Ciclismo Madonna del Ghisallo on Lake Como, with other memorabilia housed in a museum dedicated to Cremona’s cycling history.
This small book offers a deeply affectionate portrait of a cyclist who, while not boasting the extensive palmarès of cycling legends like Merckx or Gimondi, still achieved a remarkable level of success in a sport he loved. As the author beautifully states, Giuseppe Soldi was not just a champion, but a man who remained a man, embodying humility and integrity throughout his life.