Nino Borsari (14 December 1911 – 31 March 1996) was an Italian
cyclist
Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from two ...
who won a gold medal in the
4000 metres team pursuit event at the
1932 Summer Olympics.
In 1934, Borsari traveled to
Australia to compete in the
Centenary 1000, one-week
road bicycle race
Road bicycle racing is the cycle sport discipline of road cycling, held primarily on paved roads. Road racing is the most popular professional form of bicycle racing, in terms of numbers of competitors, events and spectators. The two most common ...
over seven stages covering . The race was run in as part of the celebrations of the Centenary of
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychelle ...
.
Paul Chocque
Paul Chocque (14 July 1910 – 4 September 1949) was a French professional road bicycle racer. He won a silver medal at the 1932 Summer Olympics in team pursuit event.
In 1934 Chocque traveled to Australia with Fernand Mithouard to compete ...
a member of the French silver medal team pursuit at the 1932 Summer Olympics also competed. Commenting before the race,
Hubert Opperman
Sir Hubert Ferdinand Opperman, OBE (29 May 1904 – 18 April 1996), referred to as Oppy by Australian and French crowds, was an Australian cyclist and politician, whose endurance cycling feats in the 1920s and 1930s earned him international acc ...
stated that Bosari "is a mystery. Gay and laughing always, he does not appear to view the contest with any trepidation and, frankly, on his mileage to date, I feel that he will not figure prominently early." Borsari did not figure in the results of the first two stages, but was 2nd fastest in A Grade in Stage 3, having won the town sprints in
Ararat and
Ballarat Borsari rode strongly in the arduous sixth stage, extended to 152 miles (245 km) after stage 5 had to be stopped at
Mount Buffalo
Mount Buffalo is a mountain plateau of the Australian Alps and is within the Mount Buffalo National Park in Victoria, Australia. It is located approximately northeast of Melbourne. It is noted for its dramatic scenery.
The summit of the highes ...
due to a torrential downpour of rain hail and sleet.,
being crowned "Champion of the Alps" as the first A Grade rider into
Omeo
Omeo ( ) is a town in Victoria, Australia on the Great Alpine Road, east of Mount Hotham, in the Shire of East Gippsland. At the 2016 census, Omeo had a population of 406. The name is derived from an Aboriginal word for 'mountains' or 'hills ...
,
and was 2nd in A Grade at
Sale, behind
Richard Lamb
Richard William "Fatty" Lamb (26 December 1907 – 7 July 1974) was an Australian racing cyclist who competed on both road and track, as was typical of Australian cyclists of the era such as Hubert Opperman. Throughout his career, Lamb was as ...
.
Borsari backed up again in the final stage, coming 3rd in the A Grade sprint,
and finishing 5th overall.
Along the way, Borsari made a point of selecting the prettiest girl at
Warrnambool
Warrnambool ( Maar: ''Peetoop'' or ''Wheringkernitch'' or ''Warrnambool'') is a city on the south-western coast of Victoria, Australia. At the 2021 census, Warrnambool had a population of 35,743. Situated on the Princes Highway, Warrnambool (A ...
.
Borsari returned to Italy and rode the
1936 Giro d'Italia, but finished well outside the top places. He returned to Australia in 1939 and was stranded at the start of World War II. He was not
interned
Internment is the imprisonment of people, commonly in large groups, without charges or intent to file charges. The term is especially used for the confinement "of enemy citizens in wartime or of terrorism suspects". Thus, while it can simpl ...
during the war and opened a bicycle shop, Borsari Cycles, in 1942.
In 1948, Borsari assisted in Melbourne's bid for the
1956 Summer Olympic Games
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, whi ...
. The corner of Lygon Street and Grattan Street in Carlton, Victoria, Australia has been known for decades as
Borsari's Corner. A neon sign depicting Borsari on his track bicycle under the Olympic rings marks the corner, over Borsari Ristorante. Next door is the Borsario Building, and one door further down is Borsari Cycles.
Palmarès
;1932
:
1932 Los Angeles ,
Team pursuit
The team pursuit is a track cycling event similar to the individual pursuit, except that two teams, each of up to four riders, compete, starting on opposite sides of the velodrome.
Race format
Both men's and women's events are competed over ...
;1934
: 2nd Milano – Modena, Modena (Emilia-Romagna), Italy
: 3rd Corsa del Commercio, (Milano (a)), Milano (Lombardia), Italy
:
Centenary 1000
::2nd in A Grade Stage 3
::Champion of the Alps – Mt Buffalo to Omeo
::4th and 2nd fastest Stage 6
::3rd in A Grade stage 7
::5th Overall in championship
;1935
:1st Piacenza (a), Piacenza (Emilia-Romagna), Italy
;1936
: Giro d'Italia
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Borsari, Nino
1911 births
1996 deaths
Italian male cyclists
Olympic cyclists of Italy
Cyclists at the 1932 Summer Olympics
Olympic gold medalists for Italy
Olympic medalists in cycling
Sportspeople from the Province of Modena
Medalists at the 1932 Summer Olympics
Italian emigrants to Australia
Italian track cyclists
Cyclists from Emilia-Romagna