Luigi Chiodi

Luigi Chiodi
Personal information
Born(1887-06-18)18 June 1887
Turin, Italy
Died17 February 1959(1959-02-17) (aged 71)
Druento, Italy
Team information
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Professional teams
1907Bianchi
1908Peugeot–Wolber
1909Atala–Dunlop
1910Peugeot–Wolber / Stucchi
1911Atala–Dunlop
1912–1914Individual

Luigi Chiodi (18 June 1887 – 17 February 1959) was an Italian professional road cyclist active from 1907 to 1914. He was an Italian pioneer of early competitive cycling participating at the international main races in his era.

Biography

Born in Turin on 18 June 1887, Chiodi turned professional in 1907 and competed until 1914. Known as a generous and determined rider, he was considered a specialist in breakaways, having “attacks in his head before even in his legs” and possessed a strong, gladiatorial physique. He won in his debut year the 1907 Susa–Moncenisio, finished second in the Coppa Val d'Olona and third in the Coppa Savona. At the Italian National Road Championships he finished fifth just like in the Coppa del Re, and the Corsa Nazionale. He also finished seventh in both the Milano–Bologna–Firenze and the Giro delle Antiche Province.[1][2]

In 1908, riding for Peugeot alongside his close friend Giovanni Gerbi, known as the "Diavolo Rosso", Chiodi produced what many considered his finest season. He took second place in both the 1908 Roma–Napoli–Roma and the 1908 Giro del Piemonte, fourth in the Giro dell'Emilia, and fifth in the Milano–Verona, Corsa Nazionale, and Coppa Rho. Chiodi participated in the first ever Giro d'Italia in 1909 Giro d'Italia, where he finished 11th overall, claiming four top-ten stage finishes. That same year, he was third in the Gran Premio Biella and fourth in the Coppa Savona. He also competed in two Tour de France editions and three Milan–San Remo races, with his best Sanremo result being 16th in 1909 Milan–San Remo.[1][2]

In 1910, now with Peugeot and Stucchi, he won the Coppa San Giorgio, placed third in the Coppa Guicciardini, fourth in the Coppa Bastogi and Coppa Val di Ceno, and fifth in both the Genova–Nizza and the Giro di Romagna–Toscana. Although he continued racing until 1914, Chiodi, like Gerbi, experienced a rapid and irreversible decline after his peak years. His last notable result came in his final season with a ninth place in the Genova–Nizza. He died in Druento on 17 February 1959.[1][2]

Major results

1907
1st Susa–Mont Cenis
2nd Coppa Val d'Olona
5th Italian National Road Race Championships
6th Corza Nazionale
6th Giro del Piemonte
1908
2nd Giro del Piemonte
2nd Roma–Napoli–Roma
3rd stage 1
9th stage 5 1908 Tour de France
8th Corsa Vittorio Emanuele III e Regina Madre
5th Corza Nazionale
1909
11th Overall 1909 Giro d'Italia
7th stage 5
6th stage 6
5th stage 7
6th stage 8
1910
1st Coppa San Giorgio
4th Coppa Bastogi
7th Giro dell'Emilia
10th Giro della Romagna
5th Giro di Romagna-Toscana
1914
9th Genoa–Nice

Grand Tour general classification results

Stage races 1908 1909
Giro d'Italia NH 11th
Tour de France DNF DNF

Classic cycle races results

Classic cycle races 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1914
Milan–San Remo DNF 16th DNF 37th 44th
Giro del Piemonte 6th 2nd NH 14th 21st
Giro della Romagna NH NH NH 10th 15th

[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Luigi Chiodi". Museo del Ciclismo (in Italian). Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Storia di Luigi Chiodi". Museo del Ciclismo (in Italian). Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Luigi Chiodi". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 10 August 2025.