Gino Bartali, the Italian Cyclist Racing to Save

Lives

Gino Bartali, the Cycling Legend

Gino Bartali was an Italian cycling legend who holds the record for the longest time span between Tour de France victories. He won his first title in 1938, before the war, and then made his comeback to win again in 1948, after the war. The Tour de France is considered to be one of the most grueling endurance competitions in the world.

Gino’s BackgroundGino was born in a poor town in Florence in 1914, and he grew up in extreme poverty himself. His father was a day laborer who only earned about a dollar an hour. The average male life expectancy in the area was only forty years because so many of the men died from diseases, such as malaria and pneumonia. So, Bartali dedicated himself to cycling to escape this life of poverty. He trained so relentlessly that he was able to turn professional within a few years.

Gino Inspiring Others Through Achievement

and Perseverance.

Gino was known for his ability to fight through painful fatigue and continue pedaling. He inspired his younger brother, Giulio, the person dearest to him, to become a competitive cyclist as well.

Gino’s Personal Tragedy

When Gino’s younger brother was killed in a racing accident, Gino was left devastated and quit the sport. He turned to prayer as he struggled with his grief. Eventually, he made the difficult decision to return to cycling and race in honor of his brother.

Gino’s Return to Cycling

Because Gino seemed to have a natural ability to tire out his competitors, especially when racing through the mountains, he was soon winning races consistently again. His picture was often featured in the newspapers, and fans constantly hounded him for autographs.

King of Cycling

Writers referred to Bartali as the King of Cycling, and in 1938, at the age of 24, he won the Tour de France for the first time and many expected him to be at the top of the most popular summer sport in Europe for a long time.

Gino Forced Out of the Sport He Loved.

However, everything changed when relations deteriorated between France and Italy. Gino was barred from returning to the Tour in 1939. He could no longer compete in any foreign races. He then became a military bike messenger.

Gino’s Mission to Save Jews

When the German army took control of Italy in 1943, Gino was asked by a friend to join a secret organized effort to save Jews. Even though he feared for the safety of his wife and two-year-old son, Gino risked his own life by hiding Jews and by delivering forged identity papers to Jews in hiding.

The Goldenberg Family Saved

Gino sheltered Giorgio Goldenberg and his sister, mother, and father in an apartment that Gino purchased with his cycling winnings. Gino also completely provided for and supported the entire family himself.

Gino the Hero

This is an autographed picture Gino gave to Giorgio Goldenberg before he hid Giorgio and his entire family in the apartment. Giorgio has treasured the picture all of these years as a tribute to his selfless hero.

His Activity Spanned Over a Wide Area

In addition, Gino provided Mrs. Goldenberg and many other Jews who were in hiding with forged identity papers and other forged documents. It was widely known that Gino covered great distances with his bicycle for training purposes, but what the Nazis didn’t know was that he was transferring documents in the handle bars and seat of his bike.

Avoiding Discovery

When Gino was stopped and searched by the Nazis, he specifically requested that his bike not be altered or dismantled in any way since he claimed he had all of the bike’s various parts carefully calibrated in order to reach maximum speed.

The King of Cycling Returns

It is incredible that Gino could still make a comeback after the war to win the Tour de France in 1948. His win as an aging athlete is a testament to his physical and mental strength and overall character.

Gino’s Words to his Son, Andrea

These are the profound words Gino once offered to his son, Andrea: “If you’re good at sport, they attach the medals to your shirts and then they shine in some museum. That which is earned by doing good deeds is attached to the soul and shines elsewhere.”

Gino Recognized by Yad Vashem

PosthumouslyAlthough Gino died in 2000, just before his 86th birthday, his son, Andrea Bartali, has led an effort to gain recognition for his father. In 2013, Gino Bartali was inducted into the Righteous Among the Nations. Two of the people he saved, Giulia Baquis and Giorgio Goldenberg, were present for the ceremony.

Works Cited

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/10/10 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/18 http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/righteo

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