Ercole Baldini

Ercole Baldini

Ercole Baldini was born in Villanova de Forli, Italy on January 26, 1933. He was a successful bicycle racer as an amateur and later as a professional. Baldini's professional career began in 1957 and lasted through 1964.

Some of the victories during Baldini's career were:

Olympic Road Champion: 1956
Pro Men's Road World Champion: 1958
Giro d'Italia Champion: 1958
Italian Pro Men's Road National Champion: 1957, 1958
World Hour Record (set at the famed Vogorelli Velodrome in Milan): 1956
Two time Italian Amateur Champion (road and pursuit): 1956
Grand Prix des Nations: 1960

During the year 1956, while still an amateur, Ercole Baldini won the Olympic Gold Medal, won the wold amateur individual pursuit title and broke the hour record. Later in 1956 he became a professional bicycle racer. Italian cycling fans expected him to be the next campionissimo (great champion). In 1957 he broke his own hour record and in 1958 he won the Giro d'Italia and the World Champion Road Race. He was never quite as successful as a professional as he was as an amateur. 

Baldini's racing career ended after a leg injury that required surgery.

September 19, 1956. Ercole Baldini at the Vigorelli in Milan