National Champion of two different nations at the same time? Is that possible? If your name is David Solari then the answer is ‘yes’ – and the man made six Worlds podiums in four different disciplines to boot.
How did you get into cycling, David?
“My father Nino was a bike rider here in Australia specialising in Six Day racing. During the 1960’s Six Days were huge here in OZ.
“My father won two Sixes; one with Sid Patterson and another with Giuseppe Ogna.
“I caught the bike bug in 1979 when my father competed in the Masters worlds in Austria and Veterans races in Italy.”
’85 Australian AND Italian champion, how come and in which disciplines?
“I had Australian and Italian passports and in 82/83 I raced a few races in Italy, then in August 1984 I competed at the Italian Track Champs at the famed Vel Vigorelli in Milano.
“I won the junior Individual Pursuit with a 3000 meter time quicker than the seniors were going through the distance.
“My father had entered me to see how I would go against Italy’s best; then in March 1985 I won the Australian junior Individual Pursuit champ so I was national champion of two nations at the same time.”
Season ‘86 and two junior Worlds medals, riding for Italy, individual and team pursuits – a big deal for a young man – and why Italy?
“My first Worlds were in 1985, I finished fifth in the junior pursuit.
“In 1986 I won the two bronzes. The team pursuit should have been a gold medal as we’d qualified five seconds faster than any other team, but a crash in the second round ruined our chances.
“The rider that crashed would later cost us a medal at the ‘88 Games. I was rewarded with a trip to the Senior Worlds in Colorado Springs that year where I rode the points and teams pursuit. My decision to ride for Italy was a choice of life style and opportunity.
“Back when I raced in Italy, a foreigner couldn’t just enter races and race, they were only allowed to race International races. These races were only held once or twice a month whilst I wanted to race every week.
“Racing for Italy allowed me to race up to five times a week. I also loved the Italian way of life.”
Some famous names in that pursuit team with you.
“Very famous names who had very good pro careers.
“Tour of Flanders winner, Gianluca Bortolami; Giro and Tour stage winner, Fabio Baldato and twice Scheldeprijs winnner Endrio Leoni.
“We are still in touch all these years later and I catch up with Baldato yearly at the Tour Down Under.”
In ’88 and you rode The Olympics, how did that go?
“At the ‘88 games we had good form.
“In qualifying, Baldato crashed and we virtually rode the race with three riders.
“We still qualified but met Russia in the next round and were eliminated. With the times we were posting in training, a ride off for third was on the cards.
“The crash is on YouTube.”
The Olympics, nine Worlds and represented Italy 158 times at international level, are those the correct stats – that’s a lot of competitions…
“Yes, the Worlds from 1985 to 1993, two in 1986, Junior and Senior.
“Representing Italy was a regular occurrence as we would ride one day international road races as well as tours as the Italian national track team.
“Add European track meets and the total representation added up quickly – tours included, Giro di Puglia, which I won in ’87, Giro delle Regione, Giro Baby, Olympia Tour in Holland etc. International track meets, European Championships etc.”
Season ‘89 and third in the senior Worlds team pursuit.
“Yes, a good result remembering that in the 70-80’s we were competing against the mighty Eastern Bloc countries. Third was almost like winning.”
Again some top names in the team.
“Yes, World Madison Champion and top six day rider, Marco Villa; Olympic Points Champion and roadman sprinter, Giovanni Lombardi and Ivan Cerioli who rode pro with Ballan.
“We are all in contact still and I catch up with Lombardi who comes to the Tour Down Under when Peter Sagan rides down here. Giovanni is Sagan’s manager.”
What about those nice low pro Colnagos you rode?
“The Colnago’s in the famous photo of Lyon?
“They were actually Alan frames, carbon with aluminium lugs – they were light but flexed a lot.”
And the ‘rubberised’ skinsuits?
“Funny story with those skinsuits. They were running late making them and we were told we wouldn’t get them in time.
“Our coach was so adamant that we get them and use them that he demanded they send them, which they did – with no chamois.
“We rode the four rounds, in 40ºC heat, with no chamois. All in the name of aero. Our bums were very sore for weeks!”
Why leave the team pursuit and go to motor paced?
“After placing at the Worlds in pursuit events, I realised that it was going to be difficult to win a world title with the Eastern Bloc countries around.
“I’d ridden the Points at the ‘86 senior Worlds as a junior and went well, winning my heat. I wasn’t to get another chance at the Points Race, despite being Italian Points Champ in 1988 so I turned my hand to the Motor Pace.”
You were second to Roland Konigshofer of Austria in the 1990 Worlds stayers, any ‘what ifs’?
“In 1990, no ‘what if’s.’ It was my first full distance ride behind the Motors and Konigshofer was a cut above.”
You were second again to Konigshofer in the ’91 Worlds, deja vu…
“Yes, second again but this was a different story.
“I found myself not just battling Konigshofer, but his brother and three Germans as well.
“If I was to win a World Championship, this was the one. I’d qualified fastest by a considerable margin.
“But that’s motor pacing – the strongest rider doesn’t always win.”
Second to Podlesch in ‘92 in this last edition of the World amateur stayers?
“Again competing against the Germans and Austrians. Unfortunately, I was never blessed with strong team mates who could make the final and help me.”
Konigshofer and Podlesch turned pro to continue to pursue their ambitions with the ‘open’ Worlds motor paced continuing for a few years after the amateur one was dis