1986 - Fausto Coppi, Carlo Drali, his son Beppino and the Pokerissima

To get answers to the question who build the frames for which professionista seems to be easy. But reality talks different.

Thus common understanding for Fausto Coppi is that his frames were build by Bianchi Reparto Course and Gilardi for instance. But there are some hints which gives rise to doubt.

Carlo Drali started building frames in his shop in Mailand in 1925 and in parallel joined the Bianchi Reparto Course factory sometimes within the 30th. His son Guiseppe, born in 1928, joined forces with his father in 1947 at the Reparto Course and stayed until this factory was closed in about 1969. Thus both worked together with Valsassina and Gilardi and get in touch with Fausto Coppi and other riders of that time.

Looking at the 1949 Bianchi track bike ridden by Coppi some details are obviously different to all other Bianchi frames made by Valsassina or Gilardi. The drivers initials were filed into the lower steering lug and the other lugs on this frame show the poker signs.

However, these details are found on no other Bianchi but on a Drali Pokerissima with a single restriction. Those intitials in the lower steering lug can only be found on Pokerissimas, which Carlo and Beppino made for special drivers like his personal friend Fausto Coppi for instance.

As you can see the frame shows initials BM in the lower steering lug. After a while of searching it might be possible that this frame was build for Battista Monti. Battista born in 1944 in Imola was an amateur rider with some good results in 1965. He joined the professional peleton at about 1966 with Salvarin and moved to Germanvox - Wega in 1967.

Besides all of this Drali belongs to the very short list of italian frame builders that are well known for best quality and a very stiff connection to the regional racing scene. Some famous drivers were racing for industrially sponsored teams with big brands in the background but insisted on riding with those special products made by out out of those special framebuilders made frames. Eddy Merckx connection to Alberto Masi, Ugo De Rosa and Ernesto Colnago or the other famous milanese framebuilder Francesco Galmozzi might be mentioned in this context also.

Bottom Braket: Campagnolo Super Record
Headset: Campagnolo Super Record
Crankset: Campagnolo Super Record

Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Super Record
Brake Lever: Campagnolo Nuovo Record Drali pantographed
Brakes: Campagnolo Super Record
Wheelset: Campagnolo Super Record
Chain: Regina
Saddle: Selle Italia Turbo
Seatpost: Campagnolo Super Record
Stem: 3ttt  Drali pantographed
Handlebar: 3ttt

Frame tubing: Columbus SL
Fork tubing: Columbus SL