2014 Giro d'Italia stage 11

LOCAL HERO
Liguria can't lay claim to a Giro winner, but it's nurtured some exceptional riders. The best of them all, without question, was the great Giuseppe Olmo. Though no great climber, he won Olympic gold, helped himself to two editions of Milan-Sanremo and broke the hour record. Arguably his finest hour, though, came at the 1936 Giro.

Cycling was in transition, a new breed of rider coming to the fore. These were the velocisti, the specialist sprinters, and Italy had more than its fair share. The splendidly named Olimpio Bizzi and Raffaele Di Paco were amongst the best, but they need reckon with "Gepin" Olmo's coruscating strength. He'd already hoovered up nine legs in the three previous editions, and here he was simply immense. He won no less than ten stages, a feat which remains – and will likely do so for all time – unparalleled in Giro history. When he packed it in he built a bike factory, and at nearby Celle Ligure they still produce racing frames bearing his name. Well worth a visit…

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