The GB600 is a tribute to cycling legend Gino Bartali. A multiple winner of the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia, Bartali was considered almost unbeatable in the mountains and for years triumphed in the major races alongside his friend and rival Fausto Coppi.

With the outbreak of the Second World War and the occupation of Italy by Nazi Germany, Bartali's sporting career came to an abrupt end. A devout Catholic and staunch anti-fascist, he joined the Resistance, the opposition to the Nazi occupation of Italy. A prominent cyclist known to the German occupiers, he used his training rides to smuggle documents and passports to enable persecuted Jews to flee the country. He also gave shelter to some of the persecuted Jews in his own home. In this way he saved the lives of many hundreds of people and is now honoured at Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations.