This Italian Cyclist Was Paid The Same As The First Place Prize To Stay Away From The Race!
In professional cycling, a notable highlight in Alfredo Binda’s career is the organizers’ strategic decision during the 1930 Giro d’Italia. Bind was a dominant Italian cyclist who had already won the Giro d’Italia four times (1925, 1927, 1928, and 1929). The organizers offered him the equivalent of the first-place prize money to stay away from the 1930 race. The decision to exclude Binda was not merely a tactical choice but a reaction to his overwhelming dominance and public reception. Organizers thought that his win is obvious and there would be no excitement or room for surprise for the people. So, they paid 22,500 lire to Alfredo which is an amount equal to the prize of the winner.
Overview of the Giro d’Italia
Giro d’Italia or simply Giro is an annual multiple-stage bicycle race. It is primarily held in Italy. The race began in 1909. La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper organized it. It was to boost the sales of the newspaper. It is one of cycling’s Grand Tours probably inspired by Tour de France. This prestigious race features a challenging route through Italy, encompassing diverse terrains from flat stretches to mountainous stages. The Giro is usually held during May, sometimes continuing into early June.
The 1930 Giro was particularly demanding, including stages that traversed Sicily and tested riders’ endurance and strategy. The total distance to travel was 3,095 km.
The Italian Cyclist’s Career and Achievements
Alfredo Binda, born on October 11, 1902, in Cittiglio, Italy, emerged as one of the most dominant figures in professional cycling during the late 1920s and early 1930s. Binda’s exceptional performances and strategic control over races marked his career. He won the Giro d’Italia in 1925, 1927, 1928, and 1929, establishing himself as a formidable competitor. Also, in the CWorld Championships, Binda was very successful. He won the title three times in 1927, 1930 and 1932
Despite his impressive achievements, Binda’s public persona was less favored. Known for his reserved and aloof demeanor, he earned the nickname “Il Campionissimo” (The Champion). His indifference to creating public drama, or spettacolo, contributed to his unpopularity among fans and race organizers.
Binda’s Principal Rival and Public Reaction
In the years leading up to the 1930 Giro d’Italia, Alfredo Binda’s main rival was Costante Girardengo. Girardengo, a highly favored cyclist and a significant figure in Italian cycling was a darling of the media. Not only the people but also the fascist government of Benito Mussolini liked him. Perhaps that government which operated on the principle of “Bread and Circuses” coveted sportsmen who could provide entertainment to the masses. He was the first rider to be declared a “Campionissimo” or “champion of champions” by the Italian media and fans. He won the Giro in 1919 and again in 1923. So the fans had high hopes for the cycle champ, who was arguably more popular than Il Duce himself.
However, fans’s hopes were dashed in 1925. An aloof 19-year-old newcomer usurped the much-vaunted title. Binda’s unexpected victory over Girardengo in 1925 marked the beginning of his dominance in the Giro d’Italia. It proved to be deeply unpopular with fans. Binda’s rivalry with Girardengo became personal.
As Girardengo’s powers waned, Italians looked to Domenico Piemontesi to usurp Binda but, much like everyone else, he was hopelessly out of his depth against the Binda. In 1929 Girardengo “discovered” a prodigiously strong track rider from Veneto, Learco Guerra. He famously anointed him as his heir apparent, a new “anti-Binda”. Guerra closely resembled Girardengo as a cyclist and was hugely popular. He enjoyed the support of the Italian Fascist Party and by extension the press and wider sporting public just like his mentor. But Binda went on to win 1927, 1928, and 1929 Giro titles consecutively and the Italian public’s antipathy towards him grew. Italian sports-loving public perceived Binda as cold and detached, pompous even.
The 1930 Giro d’Italia and Binda’s Exclusion
In 1930, Alfredo Binda was at the height of his powers, but his overwhelming dominance posed a challenge for race organizers. And so, before the 1930 Giro, the powerful assembled and contemplated. If Binda participated, he would win. This would outrage the crowds, the number of sold copies of La Gazzetta dello Sport would drop, and the race would get altogether boring. Such an outcome had to be prevented and so the assembly made a final call: keep that guy away. So they decided to offer Binda a financial incentive to stay away. Binda was promised approximately 22,500 liras—equivalent to the first-place prize money plus potential stage win bonuses—to withdraw from the competition.
Binda accepted the offer and chose to compete in the Tour de France instead, where he achieved notable victories in stages 8 and 9. His exclusion from the Giro d’Italia in 1930 was a strategic move to ensure a more competitive race and avoid overshadowing the event. The 1930 Giro became more unpredictable, and other cyclists had a chance to shine without Binda’s dominance.
The Italian Cyclist’s Subsequent Career and Legacy
Following the 1930 Giro d’Italia, Alfredo Binda continued to have a successful career, though he faced increased competition. He returned to win the Giro d’Italia again in 1931, winning the title again in 1932. Also, he achieved notable victories in other major races, including the Tour de France. Binda retired from competitive cycling in 1938 after a remarkable career that included over 120 race victories.
Conclusion
Alfredo Binda’s impact on the Giro d’Italia and the broader cycling world is both profound and complex. The decision to pay him to stay away from the 1930 race illustrates the extent of his dominance and the strategic considerations that shaped competitive cycling during that era. Binda’s career, marked by his achievements and the controversies surrounding his public persona, remains a significant chapter in cycling history, demonstrating the dynamic nature of professional sports and the interplay between talent, strategy, and public perception.
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