Fallen Angel: The Passion of Fausto Coppi (Yellow Jersey Cycling Classics)

Fausto Coppi wasn’t just a great cyclist — he was the campionissimo, the champion of champions. Beloved, controversial, unstoppable, and ultimately tragic, Coppi became one of Italy’s biggest post‑war icons. Voted the most popular Italian sportsman of the entire 20th century, his story is as dramatic as any race he ever rode.

This gripping biography dives into Coppi’s rise from wartime hardship to becoming the first rider ever to win both the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia in the same year — not once, but twice. His solo attacks, world titles, and record‑breaking rides turned him into a legend. But his life off the bike was just as explosive. In 1950s Italy, where adultery was still illegal, Coppi’s love affair sparked national outrage, a courtroom circus, and even excommunication. His early death only deepened the myth.

Told with intelligence and emotional depth, this book paints a vivid picture of Coppi’s brilliance, his heartbreak, and a country wrestling with modernity. It’s not just the story of a cyclist — it’s the story of Italy in a moment of huge change.

Perfect for fans of cycling history, sports biographies, and anyone who loves a larger‑than‑life character.