Luigi Azzini (1 February 1884 – 9 July 1937) was an Italian professional road racing cyclist who competed during the 1900s and 1910s. He won the Coppa del Re in 1908 and competed in the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France during the early years of both stage races.
Biography
Born in Rodigo, Italy, in 1884. He was the oldest of three brothers. His brothers Ernesto Azzini (born 1885) and Giuseppe Azzini (born 1891) also became cyclists.
By profession, he was a printer. During his printing education, he studied together with his brother Ernesto and cyclist Carlo Galletti. They became friends with Galletti and would also borrow their bicycle, as his family could not afford one themselves.
Azzini competed in early Italian road races. As an amateur he won in 1908 the and Coppa Rho. He was a professional cyclist from 1909 to 1913.
As a professional cyclist he had some victories and several decent placings in major races, like a fourth place in Milano–Modena, sixth in 1909 Giro di Lombardia and seventeenth in 1909 Milan–San Remo. He participated in the Grand Tours. He finished the 1910 Tour de France overall in 17th place and competed in the Giro d'Italia four times, including in the inaugural 1909 Giro d'Italia. There he had a fifth place on stage 8 from Turin to Milan and a ninth place on stage 5 from Rome to Florence. His best overall Giro result was the 18th place in the 1913 Giro d'Italia.
His career was less successful than those of his brothers Ernesto and Giuseppe. However, he was known for giving them advice supporting them during their careers.
Azzini died, like his brother, from tuberculosis, on 9 July 1937, aged 53.
Major results
1908 1st 1st Coppa Rho
1909 30th Overall Giro d'Italia 5th stage 8 9th stage 5 4th 5th Italian National Road Race Championships 6th Giro di Lombardia 9th 3rd stage 1
1910 18th Overall Tour de France 3rd stage 11 6th stage 13 17th Overall Giro d'Italia 5th stage 2 2nd 3rd Milano–Varese 5th Coppa Bastogi 6th Coppa Savone 8th Giro di Lombardia
1911 9th Giro d'Italia, stage 2 10th Milano–San Remo
1913 18th Overall Giro d'Italia 8th stage 8
Grand Tour and classic results timeline
Grand Tour 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 Tour de France — —18 — — — Giro d'Italia Not held 30DNFDNF —18 Monument 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 Milan–San Remo —17 DNF 10DNFDNF Giro di Lombardia —68 15 — — Classic 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 Milano–TorinoNot held Not held Giro del Piemonte — Not held — — —
References
External links Image of Luigi Azzini (right)
it:Luigi Azzini