January 4, 2022. As we usher in the new year, we look forward to many miles and adventures ahead. Over the holidays, I came across this image of Madonna del Ghisallo, patron saint of cyclists.
The story and a little history from Wikipedia: "According to legend, the Medieval count Ghisallo was traveling by the hamlet of Magrelio when he was attacked by bandits. He saw an image of Virgin Mary at a shrine, ran to it, and was saved from the robbers. The apparition became known as La Madonna del Ghisallo, and she became a patroness of local travelers.
In later times, the hill Madonna del Ghisallo was made part of the Giro di Lombardia bicycle race and has often featured in the Giro d'Italia as well. The church sits atop a steep hill that climbs up from the shores of Lake Como. It became a natural stopping point for cyclists. For this reason a local priest, Father Ermelindo Vigano, proposed that La Madonna del Ghisallo be declared the patroness of cyclists. This was confirmed by Pope Pius XII. Nowadays the shrine of Madonna del Ghisallo contains a small cycling museum with photos and artifacts from the sport. There also burns a an eternal flame for cyclists who have died. One particular notable artifact is the crumpled bicycle that Fabio Casartelli, a native of the region, rode on the day that he died in a crash in the Tour de France. The church is home to many bikes and cycling jerseys used by cyclists in races".
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