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