Alfredo Binda
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Alfredo Binda (August 11, 1902 – January 1, 1986) was an Italian cyclist, one of the best road racers before the Second World War.
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 Oscar Freire). In addition, he placed third in 1929. Other victories of Binda include the Italian Championships (four times), and Milan-San Remo (twice).
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