On his bike, the blind maestro: Opera legend Andrea Bocelli proves that cycling is also his forte

By Tom Harper

Last updated at 12:11 PM on 31st October 2010



He's one of the world’s best-known opera stars and has refused to let his blindness hold him back.
Now these pictures prove that Andrea Bocelli is determined his lack of sight would not even prevent him going on a bicycle ride.
The 52-year-old tenor was guided by his fiancee Veronica Berti, 28, who placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder as they rode around the idyllic coastal town of Forte dei Marmi in Tuscany, Italy.
Brave: Andrea Bocelli has refused to let his blindness hold him back
Brave: Andrea Bocelli has refused to let his blindness hold him back
Despite his disability, Bocelli clearly did not feel the need for a helmet on the relaxed shopping trip last week. He cycled beside his partner for 20 minutes before stopping off at a Gucci shop to meet up with his 13-year-old son Matteo.
The Tuscan-born star was diagnosed at birth with the eye disease congenital glaucoma. Then, at the age of 12 he lost his sight completely when he was accidentally hit on the head during a football match and suffered a brain haemorrhage.
But he battled his blindness to become the biggest-selling solo artist in the history of classical music.
In tandem: Veronica gently guides Bocelli as they cycle through the streets of Forte dei Marmi
In tandem: Veronica gently guides Bocelli as they cycle through the streets of Forte dei Marmi
‘I was a daredevil. I loved danger and doing crazy things,’ he once said. ‘Even when I lost my sight I was exactly the same. I loved riding bikes and horses.
Andrea Bocelli
Maestro: Andrea Bocelli performing at the Royal Albert Hall
‘I was eight when I started having lessons, and when my father bought me my own horse I couldn’t wait to go off on my own.’
His life changed forever in 1992 when his unique voice was noticed by Luciano Pavarotti, who took the young Bocelli under his wing. Bocelli began recording on his own and eventually went on to sell 70 million albums worldwide.
But he is not the first famous blind man to bravely embark on a bicycle ride. Former Home Secretary David Blunkett revealed in his autobiography that he enjoyed cycling around Sheffield as a youngster.
He said: ‘For me, riding a two-wheeler bike was very risky. Counting the pedal strokes before turning a corner and learning to hear the sounds coming from buildings, grass and the climbing frame made all the difference to basic survival and ensured that I didn’t end up head-first in the sandpit.’
A Royal National Institute for Blind People spokesman said: ‘People are often quite
surprised by the sport and leisure activities practised by the blind. For example, tandem cycling is very popular.
‘These photos look a bit more risque and I haven’t heard of individuals cycling before. However, Mr Bocelli is being guided by his partner’s hand and it looks like they have done it before and know their limitations.’