Other cyclists in politics?

SDK said:

Hey all--
Just curious, given all the talk about Armstrong maybe running for
something someday, have any cyclists become successful politicians in
Europe in the past?

I read that Paolo Savoldelli ran for a seat in parliament from Bergamo
on the Forza Italia line? Damn. Ottavio Bottecchia would not
approve.--Shayana Kadidal

IIRC, Jeannie Longo was active in local Grenoble politics, IIRC in a
far-right party.
Christine Todd-Whitman is an active cyclist, but since she doesn't race
that might not count to youse guys.

Steve

--
Cut the nonsense to reply

"SDK" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Hey all--
Just curious, given all the talk about Armstrong maybe running for
something someday, have any cyclists become successful politicians in
Europe in the past?

I read that Paolo Savoldelli ran for a seat in parliament from Bergamo
on the Forza Italia line? Damn. Ottavio Bottecchia would not
approve.--Shayana Kadidal

Binda has also run for a seat in parlement, but wasn't elected. The Italian
Chritian Democratic Party offered in 1948 seats in the parlement tot Bartali
and Coppi. Both refused. Bartali said later that he had some regret:
"sitting in Rome, doing nothing and getting payed would have been great". He
probably wouldn't have been a first-class policitian. But the most succesful
cyclist-politician AFAIK was the Australian Hubert Opperman (1904-1996), in
1931 winner of Paris-Brest-Paris and 12th in the Tour, and later Minister
for Shipping and Transport and Minister for Immigration in the Australian
cabinet.

Benjo

SDK said:

Hey all--
Just curious, given all the talk about Armstrong maybe running for
something someday, have any cyclists become successful politicians in
Europe in the past?

I read that Paolo Savoldelli ran for a seat in parliament from Bergamo
on the Forza Italia line? Damn. Ottavio Bottecchia would not
approve.--Shayana Kadidal

Quoted in my paper today: LA could get elected governor of Texas,
and they'd have someone who can keep a bicycle upright. (from Jay Leno)

--Karen M.