Biography
Baldini was born at Villanova di Forlì (Emilia-Romagna).
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 become 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 after surgery to a leg.
Read more about this topic: Ercole Baldini
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