1958 is an important year for cycling. Campagnolo introduces its new group Record using a light alloy crankset for the 1st time.
The Record group, however, still has novelties such as the pedals, the hubs in aluminum and a completely new front derailleur.
The main bicycle manufacturers do not wait to mount this new Campagnolo group on their bicycles, but because of the high price, the models from the previous catalogs are still used for the racing bicycles that do not belong to the top range.
Legnano Roma Olimpiade and Legnano Gran Premio
The Italian bicycle manufacturer Legnano known from Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali, does not wait to mount the Record group on its new models. The model Roma with Gran Sport was previously their top model and with the installation of the group Record the Roma it gets the new name Roma Olimpiade while the Roma is now called Gran Premio.
The Gran Premio retains much of the same characteristics as the early 1950s model: steel crankset with pin attachment, Campagnolo Gran Sport front and rear derailleur, steel wheel hubs. The Brooks saddle is replaced by a cheaper Italian leather model and Ambrosio stem and aluminum handlebar are replaced by a steel model.
The top model Gran Premio with a semi-professional version next to it
Also the frame comes directly from the Roma model in the classic green with white strips and red lettering, but this time 2 decals are added: 1 with the name Legnano on the inclined tube and a 2nd decal in the form of a parchment in the colors of the rainbow jersey referring to the world title of Ercole Baldini in 1958 on a Legnano bike
Ercole Baldini, world champion in 1958
The Legnano Gran Premio with which Ercole Baldini won the Giro d'Italia in 1958
The Gran Premio was no longer the top of the Legnano range with the sale of the Roma Olimpiade and was mainly promoted as a racing bike for amateurs or as a training bike for professionals.
The new decal on the top
Due to the reliability of the Gran Sport derailleur, many professionals still prefered the Gran Premio instead of the Roma Olimpiade with the new Record group which still had to gain confidence.
That is also why Campagnolo offered the model Roma Olimpiade with Gran Sport mounted.
