Diego traveled to Italy with Bianchi Bikes for a project called “Back to Classics”. The assignment was to photograph L’Eroica as it was during its first edition.

L’Eroica was born from the love of cycling, which takes up a good part in Italy’s history and literature. Aiming at seeking out the authentic roots of this fantastic sport, with its grand and popular spirit, rediscovering the beauty of fatigue and the thrill of conquest, and gathering a worldwide community of cycling enthusiasts, including both passionate collectors of vintage bicycles, and those who love road bikes in all their forms.

L’Eroica is a solitary journey.  You are accompanied by a crowd, but at the same time in absolute solitude. It perfectly summarises what cycling is all about: you are surrounded by many people, but it is a solo effort.

See below a selection of my high-contrast black and white photographs, which indeed were in vivid colours when he looked at them from the viewfinder, while searching for the best characters to portrait.