Gaetano Belloni
Encyclopedia
Gaetano Belloni was an Italian
professional road racing cyclist. The highlights of his career were his overall win in the 1920 Giro d'Italia
, the two victories in Milan – San Remo (1917 and 1920), and the three victories in the Giro di Lombardia (1915, 1918 and 1928).
Belloni was born at Pizzighettone
, near Cremona
, and made his debut in the road cycling world in the wake of his elder brother Amleto. As an amateur
, in 1914 he won the "Small" Giro di Lombardia and the Coppa del Re, as well as the Italian championship.
Having avoided to be called to the front
, Belloni won surprisingly, the overall Giro di Lombardia in 1915 (a feat he repeated in 1918 and 1928) and the Milan – San Remo of 1917.
In 1920 he obtained his greatest victory, the Giro d'Italia
. In the 1920s Belloni constantly rivalled with his friend Costante Girardengo
, being almost always defeated and gaining for this reason the nickname of "Eterno secondo" ("Eternal second").
He won a total of 43 races as a professional, including 12 stages at Giro d'Italia.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
professional road racing cyclist. The highlights of his career were his overall win in the 1920 Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
, the two victories in Milan – San Remo (1917 and 1920), and the three victories in the Giro di Lombardia (1915, 1918 and 1928).
Belloni was born at Pizzighettone
Pizzighettone
Pizzighettone is a comune of the Province of Cremona in the Italian region Lombardy. The main population centre is located on the river Adda and is divided into two parts: Pizzighettone on the east bank and Gera on the west....
, near Cremona
Cremona
Cremona is a city and comune in northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left bank of the Po River in the middle of the Pianura Padana . It is the capital of the province of Cremona and the seat of the local City and Province governments...
, and made his debut in the road cycling world in the wake of his elder brother Amleto. As an amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
, in 1914 he won the "Small" Giro di Lombardia and the Coppa del Re, as well as the Italian championship.
Having avoided to be called to the front
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Belloni won surprisingly, the overall Giro di Lombardia in 1915 (a feat he repeated in 1918 and 1928) and the Milan – San Remo of 1917.
In 1920 he obtained his greatest victory, the Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
. In the 1920s Belloni constantly rivalled with his friend Costante Girardengo
Costante Girardengo
Costante Girardengo was an Italian professional road bicycle racer, considered by many to be one of the finest riders in the history of the sport. He was the first rider to be declared a "Campionissimo" or "champion of champions" by the Italian media and fans...
, being almost always defeated and gaining for this reason the nickname of "Eterno secondo" ("Eternal second").
He won a total of 43 races as a professional, including 12 stages at Giro d'Italia.