Brooklyn and a Ferrari

 

The iconic striped Brooklyn jersey worn by Ercole Gualazzini


Italian professional cycling team, Brooklyn existed from 1970 to 1977. A one-day classics team featured riders such as Roger De Vlaeminck, who won Paris-Roubaix four times. For the first three seasons, Italian beer Dreher sponsored the team, and then for the following seasons by Italy's Brooklyn Chewing Gum. 


First taste: Roger De Vlaeminck, Dreher, Paris-Roubaix 1972


In 1973, Roger De Vlaeminck joined the new Brooklyn team where team director Franco Cribiori shaped the squad around the man who would eventually be called, 'Mr Paris-Roubaix', although De Vlaeminck still prefers his other nickname 'The Gypsy' something that even now graces his top tube.  

Soon after he showed his impressive talent of one-day race victories. Not surprisingly, 3 Paris-Roubaix titles (1974, 1975 and 1977), Giro di Lombardia (1974, 1976), Milan-San Remo (1973) and Tour of Flanders (1977). De Vlaeminck was never alone and successfully supported by his loyal teammates; Ronald de Witte, Ercole Gualazzani, Marcello Osler and Patrick Sercu. 


"We were visiting the chewing gum factory of our boss Giorgio Perfetti before Milan San Remo. I stood with a wide-open mouth staring at this metallic blue Ferrari. 'If you win tomorrow, it's yours,' Perfetti said. Less than 24 hours later, I drove home in his car."
-Roger De Vlaeminck. 1973 Milan-San Remo champion and new Ferrari owner


De Vlaeminck (Brooklyn) vs Freddy Maertens (Flandria) vs Eddy Merckx (Molteni-Arcore), 1976 Milan-San Remo.





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