Ercole Baldini
Ercole Baldini is a retired Italian cyclist. As an amateur he won an Olympic gold medal in the road race and the world title in the individual pursuit on track, both in 1956. Next year he turned professional, and in 1958 won the world title in the road race and the Giro d'Italia. He continued competing on track and won bronze medals in the individual pursuit at the world championships of 1960 and 1964.Biography
Baldini was born at Villanova di Forlì. At 21 he set the hour record for amateurs, with 44.870 km, gaining the nickname of Forlì train. His best year was 1956, in which he won a gold medal in the road race at the Summer Olympics in Melbourne, and, in September, stripped Jacques Anquetil of the hour record, riding 46.394 km at the Velodromo Vigorelli in Milan.
In 1957 he became professional and won six important races, including the Trofeo Baracchi alongside Fausto Coppi, and became Italian champion. In 1958 Baldini won the Giro d'Italia, beating Charly Gaul on the latter's favourite terrain, climbing. He was again Italian champion and also won the World Cycling Championship.
Baldini finished 6th in the 1959 Tour de France. His career ended in 1964 after surgery to a leg.Career achievements
Major results
| Grand Tour | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 |
| Giro d'Italia | 3 | 1 | 17 | 41 | DNF | 7 | 26 | DNF |
| Tour de France | — | — | 6 | 33 | — | 8 | — | DNF |
| Vuelta a España | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| — | Did not compete |
| DNF | Did not finish |
| DSQ | Disqualified |
