Alfredo Binda, known as the second Campionissimo, was the dominant cycling star of the 1920s and set numerous records that still resonate in the sport’s history. Among his most remarkable achievements are holding the records for the most stage victories and the most consecutive stage victories in a single race. Even more astonishing is that these feats were accomplished during two different editions of the Giro d’Italia.
In the 1927 Giro, Binda won an incredible 12 out of 15 stages, becoming only the second cyclist, after Costante Girardengo, to lead the race from start to finish. (Only two other riders have since matched this feat: Eddy Merckx and Gianni Bugno.)
Binda’s record-breaking dominance continued in the 1929 Giro d’Italia, where he won eight consecutive stages, a streak unmatched to this day. That year also marked his fourth overall Giro victory, setting a new record at the time. His overwhelming superiority even raised concerns among race organizers, who feared his dominance would diminish public interest in the competition—and, by extension, sales of La Gazzetta dello Sport. As a result, they paid Binda not to participate in the Giro the following year, a testament to his extraordinary impact on the sport.