Tullio Campagnolo

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Gentullio (Tullio) Campagnolo (26 August 1901–3 February 1983) was an Italian racing cyclist and inventor who patented the quick release skewer and started the bicycle component design and manufacturing company that bears his name -- Campagnolo, S.R.L.

Tullio began his amateur cycling career in 1922. In 1930, he patented the quick release skewer that would become the standard for the bicycle industry -- a design that is still used today. In 1933, the first quick release hubs were produced by Campagnolo, S.R.L. Also in 1933, he patented the first sliding hub, dual seatstay rod operated, back pedal derailleur -- which would ultimately be known as the Cambio Corsa. In 1949, he introduced the Gran Sport twin cable, parallelogram rear derailleur prototype at the Milan trade show -- the first modern derailleur.

In addition to his design prowess in bicycle hubs, derailleurs, pedals, and brakes -- Campagnolo was also an innovator in the field of materials engineering for bicycle component design. In 1961, Campagnolo was the first to produce components using a low pressure magnesium casting process, and he pushed the envelope of bicycle component design when it came to the use of new aluminum alloys and titanium. But his inspiration was not limited to bicycling related products, in 1966 he received a patent for the Campagnolo self-centering wine bottle opener.

Many of cycling's greatest champions won using Campagnolo's components: Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Greg Lemond, and Miguel Indurain to name a few.

Campagnolo died in 1983, just after the introduction of the "Gruppo del Cinquantenario" (50th anniversary Campagnolo groupset). Gruppo Number 0002 was presented to Pope John Paul II in a private audience for a delegation of Italian cycling enthusiasts later that year.