Ercole Baldini
Encyclopedia
Ercole Baldini is an Italian
former professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his win in the 1958 Giro d'Italia
.
(Emilia-Romagna
).
At 21 he set the hour record
for amateurs, with 44.870 km, gaining the nickname of Forlì
train. His best year was 1956, in which he won a gold medal in the road race at the Summer Olympics
in Melbourne
, and, in September, stripped Jacques Anquetil
of the hour record, riding 46.394 km at the Velodromo Vigorelli
in Milan
.
In 1957 he become professional and won six important races, including the Trofeo Baracchi
alongside Fausto Coppi
, and became Italian champion.
In 1958 Baldini won the Giro d'Italia
, beating Charly Gaul
on the latter's favourite terrain, climbing. He was again Italian champion and also won the World Cycling Championship
.
Baldini finished 6th in the 1959 Tour de France
His career ended after surgery to a leg.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
former professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his win in the 1958 Giro d'Italia
1958 Giro d'Italia
The 1958 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 18 May to 8 June 1958, consisting of 20 stages.This 41st edition was won by the Italian Ercole Baldini.- Final classment :- Maglia rosa holders:...
.
Biography
Baldini was born at Villanova di ForlìForlì
Forlì is a comune and city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, and is the capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena. The city is situated along the Via Emilia, to the right of the Montone river, and is an important agricultural centre...
(Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
).
At 21 he set the hour record
Hour record
The hour record for bicycles is the record for the longest distance cycled in one hour on a bicycle. There are several records. The most famous is for upright bicycles meeting the requirements of the Union Cycliste Internationale . It is one of the most prestigious in cycling...
for amateurs, with 44.870 km, gaining the nickname of Forlì
Forlì
Forlì is a comune and city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, and is the capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena. The city is situated along the Via Emilia, to the right of the Montone river, and is an important agricultural centre...
train. His best year was 1956, in which he won a gold medal in the road race at the Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, and, in September, stripped Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil was a French road racing cyclist and the first cyclist to win the Tour de France five times, in 1957 and from 1961 to 1964...
of the hour record, riding 46.394 km at the Velodromo Vigorelli
Velodromo Vigorelli
Velodromo Vigorelli is a velodrome in Milan, Italy. It is currently used mostlyfor American football events. The stadium holds 9,000 people and was built in 1935 by 'Vigorelli Cycles'....
in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
.
In 1957 he become professional and won six important races, including the Trofeo Baracchi
Trofeo Baracchi
The Trofeo Baracchi was a major Italian cycling race that ran for 50 years. It was created by Mino Baracchi, in memory of his father Angelo who was a great cycle racing fan. Originally an amateur individual time trial, from 1944 it was open to professionals and became a major event on the...
alongside Fausto Coppi
Fausto Coppi
Angelo Fausto Coppi, , was the dominant international cyclist of the years each side of the Second World War. His successes earned him the title Il Campionissimo, or champion of champions...
, and became Italian champion.
In 1958 Baldini won the Giro d'Italia
1958 Giro d'Italia
The 1958 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 18 May to 8 June 1958, consisting of 20 stages.This 41st edition was won by the Italian Ercole Baldini.- Final classment :- Maglia rosa holders:...
, beating Charly Gaul
Charly Gaul
Charly Gaul was a professional cyclist. He was a national cyclo-cross champion, an accomplished time triallist and a better climber. His ability earned him the nickname of The Angel of the Mountains in the 1958 Tour de France, which he won with four stage victories...
on the latter's favourite terrain, climbing. He was again Italian champion and also won the World Cycling Championship
World Cycling Championship
The UCI Road World Championships, often referred to as the World Cycling Championships, is the annual world championship for bicycle road racing organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale . The UCI Road World Championships include championships for elite men's road race and individual time trial...
.
Baldini finished 6th in the 1959 Tour de France
1959 Tour de France
The 1959 Tour de France was the 46th Tour de France, taking place between 25 June and 18 July 1959. The race featured 120 riders, of which 65 finished. The Tour included 22 stages over 4,391 km, and the winner had an average speed of 35.474 km/h....
His career ended after surgery to a leg.
Major victories
-
Giro d'ItaliaGiro d'ItaliaThe Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
(19581958 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1958 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 18 May to 8 June 1958, consisting of 20 stages.This 41st edition was won by the Italian Ercole Baldini.- Final classment :- Maglia rosa holders:...
) World Road Cycling ChampionshipsUCI Road World ChampionshipsThe UCI Road World Championships are the annual world championships for bicycle road racing organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale...
(1958) -
Italian National Road Race ChampionshipItalian National Road Race ChampionshipThe Italian National Road Race Championships are held annually. They are a cycling race which decides the Italian cycling champion in the road racing discipline, across several categories of rider. The event was first held in 1906 and was won by Giovanni Cuniolo. At the beginning there were often...
(1957, 1958) - 1956 Summer Olympics1956 Summer OlympicsThe 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
, Melbourne - Individual Road RaceCycling at the 1956 Summer Olympics - Men's individual road raceThese are the official results of the Men's Individual Road Race at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, held on Friday December 7, 1956.-Final classification:-Did not finish:----*Ed Nestor*Jack Trickey*Walter Bortel...
(1956) - Giro di Romagna (1957)
- Giro dell'EmiliaGiro dell'EmiliaThe Giro dell'Emilia is a late season road bicycle race held annually in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour. It is considered one of the most important classic bicycle races in Italy....
(1959) - Giro del LazioGiro del LazioThe Giro del Lazio is a semi classic European bicycle race held in the region of Lazio, Italy. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour....
(1957) - Trofeo MatteottiTrofeo MatteottiTrofeo Matteotti is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in Pescara, Italy. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour.-Winners:...
(1958) - Grand Prix des NationsGrand Prix des NationsThe Grand Prix des Nations was an individual time trial for professional racing cyclists. Held annually in France, it was instituted in 1932 and often regarded as the unofficial time trial championship of the world and as a Classic cycle race. The race was the idea of a Parisian newspaper editor...
(time trial) (1960) - Coppa PlacciCoppa PlacciThe Coppa Placci is a semi classic European bicycle race held between Imola, Italy and San Marino. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour....
(1963)
- Hour recordHour recordThe hour record for bicycles is the record for the longest distance cycled in one hour on a bicycle. There are several records. The most famous is for upright bicycles meeting the requirements of the Union Cycliste Internationale . It is one of the most prestigious in cycling...
(46,393 km - MilanMilanMilan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, velodromo VigorelliVelodromo VigorelliVelodromo Vigorelli is a velodrome in Milan, Italy. It is currently used mostlyfor American football events. The stadium holds 9,000 people and was built in 1935 by 'Vigorelli Cycles'....
) (1956)
- 1 stage victory Tour de FranceTour de FranceThe Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
- 5 stage victories Giro d'ItaliaGiro d'ItaliaThe Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
, 9 days in pink jersey