Alfredo Binda

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Image:Alfredo Binda.jpg Alfredo Binda (August 11, 1902–January 1, 1986) was an Italian cyclist of the 1920s and 1930s, later trainer of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali.

Although born in Cittiglio near Varese, Binda grew up in Nice, in southern France. Learning to become a plasterer, Binda could often be found at the cycling track. His real cycling talent, however, was as a climbing specialist.

Binda became a professional in 1922, and although he scored several victories, his breakthrough came in 1925. First, he won the Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy) stage race, and then the Tour of Lombardy classic. In both races, he would dominate in the years to come. He won the Giro a record five times in 1925, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1933 (1933 was also the first year the Giro held a "King of the Mountains" competition, which Binda won too); he also won the Giro di Lombardia in 1925, 1926, 1927 and 1931. His dominance in the Giro was overwhelming: besides the five overall victories, he won 41 stages (a record only broken in 2003 by Mario Cipollini). In 1927, he won 12 out of 15 stages, and in 1929 he won 8 consecutive stages. Because of this domination, he was offered money not to compete in the Giro of 1930. Instead, he took part in that year's Tour de France, winning two stages.

In the World Championships, Binda was also very successful. He won the title three times in 1927, 1930 and 1932 (a record later equalled by Belgians Rik Van Steenbergen and Eddy Merckx and Spaniard Óscar Freire). In addition, he placed third in 1929. Other victories of Binda include the Italian Championships (four times), and Milan-Sanremo (twice).

[edit] Palmares

1933

Giro d'Italia
KoM — Giro d'Italia
6 stages — Giro d'Italia

1932

World Pro Road Racing Championship

1931

Milan-Sanremo
Tour of Lombardy
2 stages — Giro d'Italia

1930

World Pro Road Racing Championship
2 stages — Tour de France

1929

Giro d'Italia
8 stages, Giro d'Italia
Milan-Sanremo

1928

Giro d'Italia
6 stages, Giro d'Italia
Giro del Veneto

1927

Giro d'Italia
12 stages, Giro d'Italia
World Pro Road Racing Championship
Tour of Lombardy
Giro del Piemonte

1926

Tour of Lombardy
Giro del Piemonte
6 stages, Giro d'Italia

1925

Giro d'Italia
1 stage, Giro d'Italia
Tour of Lombardy

[edit] External links

Complete Palmarès

Preceded by: inaugural	World Road Racing Champion 1927	Succeeded by: Georges Ronsse
Preceded by: Georges Ronsse	World Road Racing Champion 1930	Succeeded by: Learco Guerra
Preceded by: Learco Guerra	World Road Racing Champion 1932	Succeeded by: Georges Speicher
Preceded by: Giuseppe Enrici	Winner of the Giro d'Italia 1925	Succeeded by: Giovanni Brunero
Preceded by: Giovanni Brunero	Winner of the Giro d'Italia 1927-29	Succeeded by: Luigi Marchisio
Preceded by: Antonio Pesenti	Winner of the Giro d'Italia 1934	Succeeded by: Learco Guerra