Battaglin

The Entrepreneur

The bold enterprise began thus...

In 1981, the year of triumph in the pink jersey, Giovanni Battaglin started thinking about his future and began drawing up the idea for an ambitious enterprise. His trademark qualities of determination, vision and insight were transferred into the commercial realm and thus he began the next phase of his career: building bicycles that are esteemed worldwide.

“After the victories in the Giro and the Vuelta, precisely during the period in which I could consolidate my successes, fate decided to thrust the proverbial stick into my spokes: a few kilometers from the finish of the Tour of Etna ’82, I was was thrown to the ground in the sprint. I collided violently with the sidewalk, ending up with twenty fractures. Immediate air transport to the “Gaetano Pini” clinic in Milan for recovery was a stroke of good luck, but my performance would no longer be the same.

“In 1981, at the age of thirty, while I was still actively racing, my wife Sonia and I had begun our business. After the crash I realized that my great passion for cycling could be expressed as a manufacturer of racing cycles. I wanted to continue working in the cycling industry and felt that this would be the way I could most effectively utilize a lifetime of experiences, both on and off the bike.”

One of the first examples of his brilliant ingenuity and clever handiwork was in 1978, in preparation for a formidable climb, Passo Valcava in Lombardy: “That evening the team mechanic and I modified and hand crafted the crank mechanism…” Their artisan labors rightfully give credit to Giovanni Battaglin for the first rudimentary, effective utilization of a triple crank, later perfected and modernized by Tullio Campagnolo.

Battaglin’s racing career may have had many misfortunes but he did have the satisfaction of having been deemed a brilliant, but nonetheless doomed, protagonist; in particular, at the World Championships, where it seemed he was up against a jury with their eyes blindfolded.

As a result, Battaglin threw himself energetically into the production of bikes, and he did it with astonishing success. In November 1981, working with his mechanic in a garage near the piazza of Marostica, he presented his first trademark bikes: the Battaglin “Vuelta” and “Lap” models. He received immediate recognition at the Milan Motorcycle and Bicycle Show: they were deemed the most successful, innovative models of the year. Also, he got his first important contract opportunities, lasting from 1982 to 2004, boasting prestigious teams such as Carrera, AmicaChips, and Panaria; in addition to many great victories obtained by racers riding Battaglin bicycles—one of the most notable being that of Stephen Roche, who won the 1987 Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, and World Championships.

Full Dynamix: Winning team and trademark

1998 is the debut of the Full-Dynamix, his brand name specifically for mountain bikes. The idea had been conceived in Battaglin’s heart and he set his mind on diversifying into a completely separate sector. Using his business acumen, he focused energy and funds on the increasingly popular mountain biking market. Battaglin was always on the lookout for anything new and innovative that might be successful in the cycling industry. He launched this initiative to revitalize his contribution in a constantly evolving corporate environment.

Full-Dynamix progressively gained recognition in the market as a brand name of great prestige: over the years they produced many models of innovative offroad bikes designed with surprisingly avant-garde technology, mechanical quality and performance.

Like all achievements that represent Battaglin Cycles, it isn’t just about the “product” but also the performance of his bikes, regardless of the terrain. This is most evident in the success of the FULL-DYNAMIX team.

This world-class team, during a the decade following its inception, has won everything: an Olympic gold, a World Championship and Cup. Giovanni never believed that these successes were unrivaled and has continued with his commitment to sponsor, compete and win with enthusiasm and determination. With this dedication and passion, the Full-Dynamix team has undertaken competitions in mountain biking, never underestimating any opponent or race course, whether it be Italian or international. They’ve participated and continued to dominate the field by taking on challenging seasons with races in the Italian World Cup, the World Championships and the UCI (Union International Cyclists) racing calendar. Their achievements can be attributed to the expertise and passion of a champion personified by Giovanni Battaglin, president of the team, dynamic entrepreneur, as well as the capability and work of skilled technicians and employees.

The commitment to Team Full-Dynamix began in 1998.

1999: Frenchman Miguel Martinez, nicknamed “Petit Prince,” won as European champion and came in second in both FIFA and the World Cup.

2000: Martinez had victories in both the Sydney Olympics, winning the overall title, and the World Cup championships.

2004 and 2005: Magical years for Team Full-Dynamix, increasingly gaining recognition on the international scene. Marco Bui is called to represent Italy at the Athens Olympics and leads the race from its initial laps. Due to a fall he loses position but still manages to take an outstanding 10th place. The triumphal season is also enriched by Mauro Bettin, winner of the marathon World Cup 2005. Marathons are where Full-Dynamix stands out the most: Massimo de Bertolis wins the tricolore in Livigno and Bad Goisern a historic Rainbow Jersey.

2006: De Bertolis manages to claim an important title for Full-Dynamix, thanks to a historic victory at the Rampilonga marathon,

2007: Colombian Paez wins a grand 12 victories to his credit (besides a great 4th place at the World Championships marathon). Teammate De Bertolis wins the Italian marathon champion’s jersey for the second time, in addition to a 1st place finish at Dolomiti Superbike.

2008: Tony Longo has a triumphant season by winning 5 races (Cortina-Dobbiaco, Prosecchissima, Lessinia Legend, Prealpi Bike and Civetta Superbike).

2009: proves to be a good year for the local team in many national and international tests in both cross country (XC), as well as marathon races.

2010: international tests point to XC and marathons, European trials World Cup, the most selective races in Italy and abroad, including bike Transalp, Alpentour, Trans-Germany and Cape Epic. Their objective is to compete and win again, with a team that is unique in the world that boasts prestigious victories, a first-class logistics infrastructure equipped with a large mobile truck used as hospitality-unit, an indispensable element to ensure the comfort and logistics providing vital backup for the athletes. In 2010 La Rosa FDX is composed of established names and rising stars: Mauro BETTIN (athlete and Team Manager), Massimo DE BERTOLIS, Johnny CATTANEO, Tony LONGO, Mike FELDERER, Paul MENCACCI.