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Visiting the home of the Vespa

By Cycling News

published 1 June 2006

The eleventh stage Pontedera time trial was important not only for the crucial fifty-kilometre race...

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The entrance to the Museo Piaggio(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

Gilera motorbikes(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

A 1909 model Gilera VT 317,(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

It was Daffy who started it:(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

Christened 'Paperino' by its workers(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

The Vespa goes to war(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

Going Ape(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

The 1950 Vespa Montlhery.(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

To promote the sporting image of the Vespa,(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

On a streamlined vehicle very similar to this(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

In 1951, Vespa set off to challenge the most prestigious speed trial:(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

Jos van Emden (Rabobank) kept the yellow jersey(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

The engine's two drive shafts(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

The Vespa 400.(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

A prototype 'ciclomotore'(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

The Vespa 90 from 1963.(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

From 1967, the Ciao C9T.(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

The name's Bond(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

After a makeover by Piaggio(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

No-one ever said being stylish(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

Not a seat for the faint at heart.(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

Some of the advertising images(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

Vespa goes green.(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

The Vespa PX became a real work of art,(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

Land of the Giants(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

The Vespa production line(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

During clay model development,(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

The Vespa collection.(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

Part of the Museo Piaggio's showroom floor.(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

The Vespa: way too cool for school.(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

Tales from the (motorised) peloton, June 2, 2006

The eleventh stage Pontedera time trial was important not only for the crucial fifty-kilometre race against the clock, but also for the 89th Giro d'Italia visiting the original home of the Piaggio Vespa scooter, which is currently celebrating its 60th year.

With the Italians known for their style, the sala stampa (press centre) was held in the Museo Piaggio, which, apart from housing a room full of sweaty journos and photographers on a humid Tuscan day, showcased the company's most significant models from its inception in 1948 right through to today. Anthony Tan takes us through a very rare trip back in time.