Learco Guerra

Learco Guerra (14 October 1902 – 7 February 1963) was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1934 Giro d'Italia. He was born in San Nicolò Po, a frazione of Bagnolo San Vito in Lombardy, gained the nickname of "Human Locomotive" for his enduring quality in plain stages. After mediocre attempts to play football, Guerra became a professional cyclist in 1928, at 26. The following year he became Italian champion, racing as an independent or semi-professional.

In 1930 he won his first Italian National Road Race Championships, the first of five straight wins. That same year he came second in the Tour de France after Italy's leader, Alfredo Binda, proved in poor form. The race was won by the Frenchman, André Leducq. In 1931 Guerra won four stages of the Giro d'Italia but not the final victory. In this Giro, he was the first rider who wore the pink jersey. The same year he won the world cycling championship.

In 1933 Guerra was again second in the Tour de France, and he won the Milan–San Remo. In 1934 came his greatest success, 10 stages of the Giro d'Italia and the general classification. He was also second in the world championship.

Guerra set a record of victories in a single year that was beaten only in the 1970s. His fame was exploited by the Fascist government, which profited from his heroic status.

After retirement, he worked as a team manager for riders such as Hugo Koblet and Charly Gaul.

Affected by Parkinson's disease, he died in Milan in 1963.

Career achievements Major results

1929 1st Coppa Appennino 1st Coppa Diamante 1st Roncoferraro 1st Vignola–Modena 2nd Coppa San Geo

1930

1st Circuito Monte Benici 1st Predappio Alta–Roma 1st Coppa Caivano 1st Stages 8 & 11 Giro d'Italia 1st Torino Criterium 2nd UCI Road World Championships, Road Race 2nd Overall Tour de France 1st Stages 2, 13 & 15 3rd Giro di Lombardia 8th Milan–San Remo

1931

1st Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria 1st Corsa del Commercio 1st Coppa de la Victoria 1st Prix Dupré-Lapize 1st Stages 1, 2, 7 & 8 Giro d'Italia 2nd Milan–San Remo

1932

1st Giro di Campania 1st Giro della Toscana 1st Predappio Alta–Roma 1st Stages 1, 4, 6, 7, 9 & 13 Giro d'Italia 4th Grand Prix des Nations

1933

1st Milan–San Remo 1st Circuito Belfiore 1st Bologna Criterium 1st Corsa del Commercio 1st Prix Goullet-Fogler 1st Stages 1, 3 & 5 Giro d'Italia 2nd Overall Tour de France 1st Stages 2, 6, 7, 18 & 23 2nd Giro delle Due Province Messina 3rd Six Days of Paris

1934

1st Stages 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 14 1st Giro di Lombardia 1st GP Lugano 1st Milano–Modena 1st Giro di Campania 1st Giro del Piemonte 1st Corsa del Commercio 1st GP Valle Scrivia 1st Giro della Provincia Milano (with Domenico Piemontesi) 1st Roma–Napoli–Roma 1st Florence Criterium 1st Pavia Criterium 2nd UCI Road World Championships, Road Race 2nd Six Days of Paris 2nd Prix Goullet-Fogler Madison

1935 1st Milano–Modena 1st Giro della Romagna 1st Giro della Provincia Milano 1st Six Days of Antwerp 2nd Milan–San Remo 2nd Prix Houlier-Comès Madison 2nd Six Days of Paris 3rd Cossato Criterium 4th Overall Giro d'Italia 1st Stages 3, 4, 7, 8 & 10

1936 1st Overall Giro della Provincia Milano (with Gino Bartali)

1937 1st Corsa del Commercio 1st GP Lugano 1st Stage 9 Giro d'Italia 1st Cuneo Criterium 2nd Six Days of Paris 3rd Six Days of Brussels

1938 2nd Giro della Toscana 3rd Overall Giro di Campania

1939 2nd Copa España

1940 1st Circuito de Casalecchio di Reno

1942

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

+ Legend — Did not compete DNF Did not finish