Alfredo Binda Italian road cyclist Date of Birth: 11.08.1902 Country: Italy

1. Early Life and Career
2. Rise to Prominence
3. Record-Breaking Giro Victories
4. Multifaceted Success
5. Retirement and Coaching Career

Early Life and Career

Alfredo Binda was born in Italy but spent his early life in Nice, France. His younger brother Alvino also became a cyclist. Binda initially trained as a plasterer but dedicated much of his time to cycling. In 1922, he turned professional and won several minor races in his first three seasons.

Rise to Prominence

Binda's breakthrough came in 1925 when he won the Giro d'Italia. He followed this with his first victory at the Giro di Lombardia that autumn, a race he would win three more times. Binda's extraordinary ability to excel in both stage races and one-day classics set him apart. In 1926, he became Italian national champion and retained the title for the next four years.

Record-Breaking Giro Victories

Binda's 1927 participation in the first professional World Championships resulted in an all-Italian podium, led by Binda. However, his most significant achievement that year was setting a timeless record by winning 12 of the 15 stages of the Giro d'Italia. He repeated his victories in the next two Giros, amassing 14 stage wins in total. In 1929, he added Milan-San Remo to his palmarès and won it again two years later.

Multifaceted Success

Binda added a second World Championship title to his collection in 1930, where he also won two stages of the Tour de France. He became World Champion for the last time in 1932 and emerged victorious in the Giro d'Italia in 1933, with six stage wins. His fifth overall Giro victory remains a record only matched by Fausto Coppi and Eddy Merckx.

Retirement and Coaching Career

Binda retired in 1936 after suffering a hip fracture. He soon became coach of the Italian national team, where he successfully fostered teamwork between rivals Coppi and Bartali. After his protégé Gastone Nencini won the Tour de France in 1960, Binda left the team. He passed away at the age of 83 in his hometown of Cittiglio, where the women's cycling race Trofeo Alfredo Binda is now held.