Looking at the calendar, it’s quite striking how many cycling greats were born in September. For some of them, the word “champion” almost feels too small – we’re dealing with true legends of the sport.

First and foremost, Fausto Coppi (born September 15), recordman of Giro d’Italia victories with 5 overall triumphs (a record he shares with Eddy Merckx and Alfredo Binda) and, without a doubt, one of the most iconic riders in the history of cycling. Then there’s Tadej Pogačar (born September 21), who turns 27 this year but is already a living legend, having won just about everything, including the 2024 Giro d’Italia, on his one and only participation so far.

There’s also a fine peloton of September-born riders who have won the Corsa Rosa: Damiano Cunego (September 19), the much-missed Michele Scarponi (25), Vasco Bergamaschi (29), and Giovanni Valetti (22). Not to mention the legends Giuseppe Saronni (22) – with his two overall wins, 24 stage victories, and 49 days in the Maglia Rosa – and Felice Gimondi (29), who lifted the Trofeo Senza Fine three times in nine years.

Then there are those who never won the Giro overall but always lit up the race, collecting stage wins and animating the action until the very end. Think of the Spanish climbing ace “El Tarangu” José Manuel Fuente (born September 30), who bagged 9 stages across 4 editions and wore the Maglia Rosa for 19 days. Or Italo Zilioli (24), a three-time runner-up; Francesco Casagrande (14); and Gianbattista Baronchelli (6), who stood on the final podium three times. Among the stage hunters we find Rik Van Steenbergen (9), “crazy heart” Franco Bitossi (1), Daniele Bennati (24), Jean-Paul Van Poppel (30), Mariano Piccoli (11), Filippo Pozzato (10), and the ever-aggressive Jens Voigt (17).

Among today’s stars, there’s no shortage of big names blowing out candles in September. Besides the aforementioned Pogačar, there’s Wout Van Aert (15), who made his Giro debut this year and immediately bagged a stage win. Other stage winners born this month include Lennard Kämna (9), Ben Healy (11), the hotly debated Juan Ayuso (16), former Maglia Rosa Bob Jungels (22), Santiago Buitrago (26), Michael Matthews (26) – who boasts 3 stage wins and 8 days in pink – and Alessandro Covi (28). We’ve already remembered the unforgettable Scarponi, and we must also pay tribute to Wouter Weylandt, who would have turned 41 on September 27. Happy birthday to all of them, wherever they are.