Ercole BALDINI

In 1956, Ercole Baldini had one of the greatest years in amateur cycling history. In addition to winning the Olympic gold medal, he won the world amateur individual pursuit title and broke the world hour record at the Vigorelli Velodrome in Milano. He turned professional later in 1956 and Italian cycling fans envisioned him as the next campionissimo. However, although he won the world professional road race title and the Giro d’Italia in 1958, he was never quite as successful as a professional rider. In 1957 he broke his own world hour record.