Ercole Baldini (26 January 1933 – 1 December 2022) was an Italian cyclist. As an amateur he won an Olympic gold medal in the road race and the world title in the individual pursuit on track, both in 1956. Next year he turned professional, and in 1958 won the world title in the road race and the Giro d'Italia. He continued competing on track and won bronze medals in the individual pursuit at the world championships of 1960 and 1964. Biography Baldini was born at Villanova di Forlì. At 21 he set the hour record for amateurs, with 44.870 km, gaining the nickname of Forlì train. His best year was 1956, in which he won a gold medal in the road race at the Summer Olympics in Melbourne, and, in September, stripped Jacques Anquetil of the hour record, riding 46.394 km at the Velodromo Vigorelli in Milan. In 1957 he became professional and won six important races, including the Trofeo Baracchi alongside Fausto Coppi, and became Italian champion. In 1958 Baldini won the Giro d'Italia, beating Charly Gaul on the latter's favourite terrain, climbing. He was again Italian champion and also won the World Cycling Championship. Baldini finished 6th in the 1959 Tour de France. His career ended in 1964 after surgery to a leg. Death Baldini died in his home in Villanova on 1 December 2022, at the age of 89. Career achievements Major results 1953 3rd Piccolo Giro di Lombardia 1954 1st Targa D’Oro Città di Legnano World hour record (Amateurs) – 44.90km 1956 1st Olympic Games Road Race 1st UCI Track Cycling World Championships (Individual Pursuit) 1st National Track Cycling Championships (Individual Pursuit) 1st Milano–Bologna 1st Manx International World hour record – 46.39km 1957 1st National Road Championship, Road Race 1st Coppa Brescia 1st Pescara Criterium 1st Giro della Romagna 1st Giro del Lazio 1st GP de Lugano 1st Trofeo Baracchi (with Fausto Coppi) 2nd Tre Valli Varesine 2nd Grand Prix des Nations 2nd Vezzola Criterium 2nd GP Martini 2nd Cenon Criterium 3rd Overall Giro d'Italia 1st Stage 12 3rd Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria 3rd Parma Criterium 1958 1st UCI Road World Championships, Road Race 1st National Road Championship, Road Race 1st Overall Giro d'Italia 1st Stages 2, 8, 15 & 17 1st Trofeo Matteotti 1st GP Industria e Commercio di Prato 1st Trofeo Baracchi (with Aldo Moser) 1st Coppa Collecchio 1st Castrocaro Terme 1st