Gino Bartali facts for kids
Bartali in March 1963
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| Personal information | |||
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| Full name | Gino Bartali | ||
| Nickname | Gino the Pious Ginettaccio L'uomo di ferro (The Iron Man) L'intramontabile (The Timeless) |
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| Born | 18 July 1914 Ponte a Ema, Florence, Italy |
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| Died | 5 May 2000 (aged 85) Florence, Italy |
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| Team information | |||
| Discipline | Road | ||
| Role | Rider | ||
| Rider type | Climbing specialist | ||
| Major wins | |||
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Gino Bartali (born July 18, 1914 – died May 5, 2000) was a famous Italian road cyclist. People called him Gino the Pious because he was very religious. In Italy, he was also known as Ginettaccio.
Before World War II, Gino was the most well-known Italian cyclist. He won the Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy) twice, in 1936 and 1937. He also won the Tour de France in 1938. After the war, he won both races again: the Giro d'Italia in 1946 and the Tour de France in 1948. His 1948 Tour de France win was special because it was ten years after his first victory, the longest gap between wins in the race's history!
In 2013, after he had passed away, Gino Bartali was honored as a "Righteous Among the Nations" by Yad Vashem. This award is given to non-Jewish people who risked their lives to help Jews during the Holocaust in World War II.
Contents
Early Life and First Races
Gino Bartali was born in Ponte a Ema, a town near Florence, Italy. He was the third of four children in his family. His father was a small farmer.
Gino started working in a bicycle shop when he was just 13 years old. He also began racing bikes at that age. He quickly became a promising amateur rider. In 1935, when he was 21, he became a professional cyclist. The very next year, he became the Italian champion. In 1940, Gino married Adriana Bani. Even Pope Pius XII blessed their wedding!
Professional Cycling Career
Gino Bartali quickly made a name for himself in professional cycling. In 1935, he won a stage in the Giro d'Italia. He also became the "King of the Mountains" that year, which means he was the best climber. He won this title seven times in his career!
In 1936, before he turned 22, Gino won the entire Giro d'Italia race. He also won the Giro di Lombardia, another big race. Sadly, that year was difficult because his brother, Giulio, died in a racing accident. Gino almost quit cycling after that.
His friends and family convinced him to keep riding. In 1937, he won the Giro d'Italia again. Some people thought he was only good at racing in Italy. To prove them wrong, he decided to race in the Tour de France in 1937.
Racing in the Tour de France
Gino's first Tour de France in 1937 started badly. He lost a lot of time early on. But then, he started to catch up in the mountains. He even took the leader's yellow jersey! However, his race ended when he crashed into a bridge and fell into a river. He was hurt and had to stop racing.
He returned to the Tour de France in 1938. This time, he was determined to win. He faced tough competition, bad weather, and even a flat tire on a mountain. But he won the hardest stage, finishing five minutes ahead of others. People were amazed! An Italian general even shouted, "Don't touch him – he's a god!"
Because of World War II starting, Italy did not send a team to the Tour de France in 1939.
Winning the Tour Again in 1948
When Gino Bartali returned to the Tour de France in 1948, many things had changed. Some riders he knew had died in the war. There were also many new, younger riders. Gino was so worried that he spent a whole evening trying to learn their names!
The Tour started in a rainstorm. Gino couldn't recognize anyone because they were all wearing rain gear. He took his chance and ended up finishing a stage with another strong rider, Briek Schotte. Gino took the yellow jersey that day.
During that Tour, something very important happened in Italy. The leader of the Communist Party, Palmiro Togliatti, was shot. This caused a lot of anger and tension in Italy, and it seemed like a civil war might break out.
Then, Gino Bartali won three stages in a row! He was leading the Tour by a huge 14 minutes. Many people believe that his amazing victories helped calm things down in Italy. His wins gave Italians something to celebrate together, and it helped ease the political tensions.
The 1950 Tour de France Incident
In the 1950 Tour de France, Gino Bartali had a disagreement with a French rider named Jean Robic. They were riding together up a mountain when they bumped shoulders and both fell.
Gino said that some French fans were so angry that they hit him and threatened him. He still got back on his bike and won the stage. But after the race, Gino said he was going home, and so were all the Italian teams.
The race organizers tried to convince him to stay. Gino said he wouldn't risk his life. It turned out the Italian cycling association had decided to pull the teams out of the race. The situation was so serious that the French foreign minister even apologized to Italy!
Hero During World War II
Gino Bartali is remembered not just for his cycling, but also for his bravery during World War II. He helped Jewish people who were being hunted by the Nazis in Italy.
It was revealed in 2010 that Gino had hidden a Jewish family in his cellar, saving their lives. He also used his fame as a cyclist to help the Italian Resistance. He would ride his bike from Florence to other towns like Assisi, pretending to train. But secretly, he was carrying important messages and documents for the Resistance. The Fascist police and German soldiers didn't dare arrest him because he was so famous and loved by the Italian people.
Gino worked with a man named Giorgio Nissim, who was helping Jewish people escape. Nissim and some friars (religious brothers) made fake documents. They needed photos of the people they were helping. Gino would ride to Assisi, where many Jews were hiding, collect their photos, and then ride back to Nissim. He also used his position to find out about raids on safe houses, so he could warn people.
Even when he was questioned by the police, Gino never told them what he was doing. After the war, he never bragged about his heroic actions. He used to say, "The good is done, but it is not said. And certain medals hang on the soul, not on the jacket." This means he believed true good deeds are their own reward.
In 2013, Gino Bartali was officially honored as a "Righteous Among the Nations" by Yad Vashem, a special award for those who saved Jews during the Holocaust.
Riding Style and Achievements
Gino Bartali was an amazing climber. He had a unique style: he rarely stood up on his pedals, even on long, steep climbs. He would stay seated and just change to a harder gear.
One of his most incredible achievements was in the 1948 Tour de France. He won three mountain stages in a row! No one else has ever done that in the Tour de France's history.
Rivalry with Fausto Coppi
Gino Bartali had a famous rivalry with another great Italian cyclist, Fausto Coppi. This rivalry was so big that it divided Italy! Gino was seen as a traditional, religious man, popular in the countryside. Coppi was more modern and worldly, a hero in the industrial cities.
Their rivalry began in 1940 when Coppi joined Gino's team. Coppi was supposed to help Gino, but then Coppi won the Giro d'Italia himself! This started their competition. Sometimes, their rivalry got so intense that they refused to help each other in races. For example, in the 1948 World Championship, both riders quit the race rather than help the other win. They were even suspended for two months!
Despite their fierce competition, they also had moments of sportsmanship. In the 1952 Tour de France, they were seen sharing a water bottle on a tough mountain climb. Even though they later argued about who offered it first, it showed they could still work together.
In the 1949 Tour de France, they were teammates again. They worked together to dominate the race in the mountains. When one had a flat tire, the other would wait. Coppi ended up winning the Tour that year, with Gino finishing second.
Personal Life
Gino Bartali grew up in a very religious family. His strong faith earned him the nickname "Gino the Pious." He always prayed before meals and didn't like it when his teammates used bad language. He was very proud that Pope John XXIII once asked him to teach him how to ride a bicycle!
Gino was known for being a bit pessimistic. He often said, "Everything's wrong; we'll have to start all over again." But he was also a very honest person.
Later Life and Death
Gino Bartali stopped racing when he was 40 years old, after being injured in a road accident. He passed away in May 2000 from a heart attack, at the age of 85. He left behind his wife, Adriana, and their children.
Many important people, including the Prime Minister of Italy, sent their condolences. The head of the European Commission called him "a symbol of the most noble sportsmanship." Gino Bartali is remembered as a true champion, both on and off the bike.
Images for kids
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Bartali around 1945
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The 4-speed bicycle Bartali rode to victory in the 1938 Tour de France
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Bartali with wife Adriana Bani and sons Andrea and Luigi Bartali in 1963
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Gino Bartali
