Top Time B01 Gino Bartali Limited Edition

PRESS RELEASE

FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2025

TIMELESS RIVALRY, LEGENDARY RIDERS: BREITLING’S TOP TIME TRIBUTE TO CYCLING GREATS FAUSTO COPPI AND GINO BARTALI

Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali united a nation through their professional rivalry and extraordinary real-life friendship. Now, Breitling unveils two vibrant limited-edition chronographs dedicated to the Italian cyclists’ legacy of resilience and achievement.

Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali weren’t just champions – they were symbols of sportsmanship. In the 1940s and 1950s, their legendary rivalry was matched only by their respect for each other, famously captured in a moment of shared endurance: passing a water bottle just before the final push. Both were Breitling ambassadors at a time when the brand was the official timekeeper for cycling’s greatest races. Competing fiercely yet united by their love of the sport, they dominated the European circuit, defined an era, and inspired millions.

Now, Swiss luxury watchmaker Breitling honors their legacy with a pair of limited-edition Top Time watches that celebrate Coppi and Bartali’s lasting impact on sports and society. Featuring striking colors inspired by their bikes and jerseys, these timeless modern chronographs bring their story to life.

CEO Georges Kern says, “Coppi and Bartali had one of the greatest rivalries in sports. They pushed each other to new heights. An incredibly inspiring story that these watches bring to life.”

KEEPING TIME SIDE BY SIDE: TOP TIME COPPI & BARTALI

The Top Time was introduced in the transformative 1960s as Willy Breitling’s bold and unconventional line of racing chronographs, designed to capture the era’s penchant for speed and style. As the zeitgeist shifted, the Top Time resonated with men and women alike, celebrated for its dynamic proportions and graphic dials. Decades later, it still captures that spirit – now with two special editions honoring legends of the cycling world.

The Top Time B01 Fausto Coppi features turquoise subdials on a white dial, with an orange lightning-shaped seconds hand echoing the colors of Coppi’s bike. The Top Time B01 Gino Bartali comes in a blue dial with yellow accents, inspired by his memorable jersey.

Both 750-piece limited editions feature their nicknames on the tachymeter scale: “Il Campionissimo” (Champion of Champions) for Coppi and “L’Intramontabile” (The Timeless) for Bartali. Their signatures at six o’clock make the connection even more personal. Look closely, and you'll see another subtle tribute: brushed lines running through the subdials, symbolizing the two champions riding side by side.

Each watch comes with the choice of a perforated calfskin strap or a stainless-steel mesh bracelet to complete the modern-retro look. The 41 mm chronograph runs on Breitling’s Manufacture Caliber 01, offering COSC-certified precision and an approximate 70-hour power reserve. The “squircle” subdials (not quite square, not quite round) at 9 and 3 o’clock capture the running seconds and chronograph minutes, while the mushroom pushers enable smooth control of the chronograph functions. A transparent caseback reveals the inner workings of the movement, its outer ring engraved with either “Fausto Coppi Tribute” or “Gino Bartali Tribute” and “One of 750.”

Unforgettable in their time, reimagined for ours, the Top Time B01 Coppi & Bartali honor the resilience and friendships forged even in the fiercest competition.