Gianbattista Baronchelli
Encyclopedia
Gianbattista Baronchelli (born 6 September 1953) is an Italian
retired professional road racing cyclist (1974–1989). He obtained a total of 94 victories.
Baronchelli was born in Ceresara
, in the Province of Mantua
. In 1973, as an amateur, he won the Tour de l'Avenir
and the Baby Giro, and he was thought destined to win the Giro d'Italia
. Although he knew the director of the Molteni team, they did not sign him, as they already had Eddy Merckx
as their team captain, so Baronchelli signed a contract at the SCIC team.
He was overall second at the Giro d'Italia
in 1974 and 1978, and third in 1977. His other main accomplishments were a silver medal at the 1980 World Championships and two victories at the Giro di Lombardia (1977 and 1986).
Baronchelli started in the Tour de France
twice, in 1976 and 1979, but both times did not finish the race.
He won the Giro dell'Appenino six times in succession from 1977 to 1982.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
retired professional road racing cyclist (1974–1989). He obtained a total of 94 victories.
Baronchelli was born in Ceresara
Ceresara
Ceresara is a comune in the Province of Mantua in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 110 km east of Milan and about 20 km northwest of Mantua...
, in the Province of Mantua
Province of Mantua
The Province of Mantua is a province in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. Its capital is the city of Mantua.-Communes:It includes 70 comuni , ranging in area from Viadana, with 102.19 km², to Mariana Mantovana, with 8.81 km²....
. In 1973, as an amateur, he won the Tour de l'Avenir
Tour de l'Avenir
Tour de l'Avenir is a French road bicycle racing stage race, which started in 1961 as a race similar to the Tour de France and over much of the same course but for amateurs and for semi-professionals known as independents. Riders competed in national teams...
and the Baby Giro, and he was thought destined to win the Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
. Although he knew the director of the Molteni team, they did not sign him, as they already had Eddy Merckx
Eddy Merckx
Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
as their team captain, so Baronchelli signed a contract at the SCIC team.
He was overall second at the Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
in 1974 and 1978, and third in 1977. His other main accomplishments were a silver medal at the 1980 World Championships and two victories at the Giro di Lombardia (1977 and 1986).
Baronchelli started in the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
twice, in 1976 and 1979, but both times did not finish the race.
He won the Giro dell'Appenino six times in succession from 1977 to 1982.
Major victories
Amongst Baronchelli's victories are:- 2 x Giro di Lombardia (1977, 1986)
- 6 x Giro dell'AppenninoGiro dell'AppenninoThe Giro dell'Appennino is a semi classic European bicycle race held in the Apennine Mountains, Italy. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour....
(1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982) (record) - Tour de RomandieTour de RomandieThe Tour de Romandie is a stage race which is part of the UCI World Tour. It runs in the Romandie region, in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. It began in 1947, to coincide with the 50-year anniversary of Swiss Cycling....
(1977) - 2 x Giro del PiemonteGiro del PiemonteThe Giro del Piemonte is a semi classic European bicycle race held in the Apennine Mountains, Italy. The race first took place in 1906. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour...
(1978, 1980) - 2 x Giro di Romagna (1976, 1979)
- Giro dell'EmiliaGiro dell'EmiliaThe Giro dell'Emilia is a late season road bicycle race held annually in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour. It is considered one of the most important classic bicycle races in Italy....
(1980) - Vuelta al País Vasco (1976)
- Rund um den Henninger-Turm (1980)
- Giro del LazioGiro del LazioThe Giro del Lazio is a semi classic European bicycle race held in the region of Lazio, Italy. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour....
(1981) - 2 x Giro di ToscanaGiro di ToscanaThe Giro di Toscana is a road bicycle race held annually in Tuscany, Italy. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour.-Winners:...
(1981, 1984) - Tour de l'AvenirTour de l'AvenirTour de l'Avenir is a French road bicycle racing stage race, which started in 1961 as a race similar to the Tour de France and over much of the same course but for amateurs and for semi-professionals known as independents. Riders competed in national teams...
(1974) - Trofeo LaiguegliaTrofeo LaiguegliaThe Trofeo Laigueglia is an early season road bicycle race held annually in Liguria, Italy. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour. It is held about ten days after the opening to the Italian season, the Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi.-Palmarès:...
(1975) - Coppa PlacciCoppa PlacciThe Coppa Placci is a semi classic European bicycle race held between Imola, Italy and San Marino. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour....
(1978) - Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria (1980)
- Coppa SabatiniCoppa SabatiniThe Coppa Sabatini is a late season road bicycle race held annually in Province of Pisa, Italy. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour.-Winners:...
(1980) - Trofeo BaracchiTrofeo BaracchiThe Trofeo Baracchi was a major Italian cycling race that ran for 50 years. It was created by Mino Baracchi, in memory of his father Angelo who was a great cycle racing fan. Originally an amateur individual time trial, from 1944 it was open to professionals and became a major event on the...
(1975, with Francesco MoserFrancesco MoserFrancesco Moser , nicknamed "Lo sceriffo" , is an Italian former professional road bicycle racer. He was one of the dominant riders from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, and won the 1984 Giro d'Italia, the 1977 world road racing championship and six victories in three of the five Monuments...
)
- 4 stages in the Giro d'ItaliaGiro d'ItaliaThe Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
- 1 stage in the Vuelta a EspañaVuelta a EspañaThe Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...