History of Colnago

12-03-23 | Simon

Colnago is an Italian bicycle manufacturer founded in 1954 by Ernesto Colnago in Cambiago, a small town outside of Milan. The company has a long history of producing high-end racing bikes, and its bikes have been ridden to victory in some of the world's most prestigious cycling events.

Ernesto Colnago began his career as a mechanic for the Italian professional cycling team, Molteni. He quickly gained a reputation for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to innovate in bike design. In 1960, he founded his own company, Colnago, and began producing handmade racing bikes.

Colnago's early bikes were made using traditional steel tubing and were known for their exceptional ride quality and durability. In the 1970s, the company began experimenting with new materials, including aluminum and carbon fiber, and introduced several groundbreaking designs, including the Master and C40.

The Colnago Master, introduced in 1983, featured a unique star-shaped tubing design that improved stiffness and responsiveness while reducing weight. The C40, introduced in 1994, was one of the first racing bikes to be made entirely of carbon fiber, and quickly gained a reputation as one of the most technologically advanced bikes of its time.

Over the years, Colnago bikes have been ridden to victory in countless races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia, and the Spring Classics. Some of the most legendary riders in cycling history, including Eddy Merckx and Mario Cipollini, have ridden Colnago bikes to victory.

Today, Colnago continues to be a leading manufacturer of high-performance racing bikes, and the company continues to innovate in bike design, producing some of the most advanced and sought-after bikes in the world.