Ivan Basso’s Bicycle in Auction for Emiko Seal Fund

Ivan Basso’s Cannondale Super Six which he rode in his first race on his return to cycling is currently being auctioned by Cannondale Japan, with proceeds going to the Seal Emiko Fund.

The auction can be found here and it's live now and lasts until March 20. To take part you will probably need to be able to speak Japanese or have access to someone who does. Current high bid is 401,000 yen (about £2,900) – the bid page (translated) is here.

The bike, custom-painted by Italian paint-meisters Artech Design, features a Japanese warrior theme and Japanese writing to mark  Basso’s return to pro cycling in the 2008 Japan Cup. It was raced by Basso to a third-place finish in the race and is truly one of a kind.

Emiko Seal is a committee member of JACC, the Japan Adventure Cyclist Club. In 1989, she started a world tour by bicycle with her husband Steve.

Together, they cycled through 77 countries and over 11,000 kilometers. Just before completing the goal in 2001, she was diagnosed with cancer and was given just six months to live. With her usual determination, she fought the cancer into remission and recommenced the tour in 2004. Last year, the cancer returned and Emiko now fights for her life. She continues her lectures “Dream, hope and courage” and has written a book “Beyond Cancer, Aim Towards the Horizon”.

“Cancer has touched my own family, too,” says Basso. “It’s something that has united many of us in cycling, and I’m proud that this bicycle is going to an excellent cause.”

You could translate the auction page using Google or Babelfish… but when we tried the results were far from ideal, or intelligible. However, it's a really good cause so if you are interested in bidding for the bike keep trying - they may put up an English page too and if that happens we'll let you know.