With a growing reputation from their racing wins, Colnago plunged into the market for production bikes. when we made special forks, and special bikes." This included the super-light steel frame used by Merckx in 1972 to break the world one-hour record. So it was a real honour to work for a great champion like Merckx. After the demise of the Faema team, Eddie Merckx joined the Molteni team, and what ensued was mutual innovation-as Colnago describes it: "Merckx was an up and coming champion, and I was an up and coming bike builder. A win on a Colnago in the 1970 Milan-San Remo race by Michele Dancelli for the Molteni team inspired Colnago to change his logo to the now-famous 'Asso di Fiori' or Ace of Clubs. While Ernesto was the head mechanic of the Molteni team, riders such as Gianni Motta raced on Colnago bikes. By the late 1960s, Colnago was generally regarded as one of the builders of the world's best steel road race frames. In 1960, Colnago achieved more recognition as Luigi Arienti rode to a gold medal at the Rome Olympics on a Colnago bicycle. One of the first big victories on a Colnago frame was in 1957, when Gastone Nencini won the 1957 edition of the Giro d’Italia bicycle race on a Colnago bicycle. The signature of Ernesto Colnago, which appears as a decal on all new Colnago bicycles, except the special Ferrari versions.
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The company first became known for high quality steel framed bicycles suitable for the demanding environment of professional racing, and later as one of the more creative cycling manufacturers responsible for innovations in design and experimentation with new and diverse materials including carbon fiber, now a mainstay of modern bicycle construction. He was second mechanic on the Nivea team Giro d'Italia under Faliero Masi in 1955, eventually being employed as head mechanic for the Molteni team of Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx in 1963. While building frames, he remained much in demand as a racing mechanic. After a bad crash ended his racing career, he began subcontracting for Gloria, opened his own shop in 1954, building his first frames the same year.
Instead of following his family's farming business, Ernesto Colnago chose to work in the cycle trade, apprenticing first with Gloria Bicycles at 13, subsequently taking up road racing. It remained a family-controlled firm until May 4, 2020, when it was announced that the UAE-based investment company, Chimera Investments LLC had acquired majority of the Colnago stakes from Ernesto Colnago, although the headquarters will remain located in Italy since the acquisition. or Colnago is a manufacturer of high-end road-racing bicycles founded by Ernesto Colnago near Milano in Cambiago, Italy.