Gaetano Belloni
Gaetano Belloni was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlights of his career were his overall win in the 1920 Giro d'Italia, the two victories in Milan–San Remo, and the three victories in the Giro [di Lombardia].
Belloni was born at Pizzighettone, near Cremona, and made his debut in the road cycling world in the wake of his elder brother Amleto. As an amateur, in 1914 he won the "Small" Giro di Lombardia and the Coppa del Re, as well as the Italian championship.
Having avoided to be called to the front, Belloni won surprisingly, the overall Giro di Lombardia in 1915 and the Milan–San Remo of 1917.
In 1920 he obtained his greatest victory, the Giro d'Italia. In the 1920s Belloni constantly rivalled with his friend Costante Girardengo, being almost always defeated and gaining for this reason the nickname of "Eterno secondo".
The latest Giro where he played a big role was the 1929 Giro d'Italia, where he won the first stage, and was leader of the general classification for the first three stages. In that Giro, Belloni collided with a young boy, killing the boy, and Belloni left the race after this accident.
He won a total of 43 races as a professional, including 12 stages at Giro d'Italia.
Major results
;1914;1915
;1916
;1917
;1918
;1919
;1920
;1921
;1922
;1923
;1924
;1925
;1926
;1927
;1928
;1929
;1930
;1935