We can’t help but wonder whether Fabiana Luperini ever regrets not being born in a different era – or better yet, this era – when women’s cycling has reached sky-high levels and keeps growing season after season. Let’s face it, if Fabiana were racing today, she’d be a full-blown superstar.

Instead, unfortunately for her, her star sparked at a time when women’s cycling didn’t enjoy the prestige or spotlight it truly deserved. And yet, her palmarès is absolutely jaw-dropping: five wins at the Giro d’Italia Women, with 15 stage victories, plus three overall wins at the Tour Cycliste, along with 16 stages – a race that today goes by the name of Tour de France Femmes. More than 80 career victories in total. In short, a résumé worthy of the all-time greats.

Born on 14 January, 1974, a pure climber with mountain legs for days, she broke through in the very years when Marco Pantani (born on the day before) was making Italy fall in love with his explosive uphill attacks. No surprise she earned the nickname Pantanina (little Pantani) – even if, when you look at the numbers, her trophy cabinet is actually deeper than the Pirate’s.

After a long career that began at 19 and wrapped up at 40 – highlighted by the satisfaction of winning her fifth and final Giro Women in 2008, ten years after her fourth triumph in 1998 – Fabiana moved into the team car. From the ammiraglia, she passed on her vast experience to the next generation. In the 2023–2024 seasons, signed by Team Corratec, she made history once again by becoming only the second woman ever to manage a men’s professional team. A true myth celebrates her birthday. Have a great one, Fabiana!