Pasquale Fornara

Pasquale Fornara ( born March 29, 1925 in Borgomanero; † July 24, 1990 ) was an Italian cyclist of the 1950s. With a total of four victories, he is the record winner of the Tour de Suisse. He also was second in the 1958 Tour of Spain in 1953 and third in the Giro d' Italia.

Career and Achievements

In 1950, he won his first major race with Milan- Modena. Two years later he was the first success in tour win, he first won the 18th stage of the Giro to a few weeks could claim his first victory at the Tour de Suisse with two stage wins later.

1953 Fonara focused on the Giro. After a stage victory he won the mountain classification for himself and also was third overall, 1954, he then took on the two main tours, the Giro and the Tour de France, in part. In the Tour, he missed fourth to 71 seconds for a podium finish, the Giro he was, as well as the World Championships road race this year, seventh.

In 1956 he won the Tour de Romandie while, but also experienced the biggest defeat of his career. As leader since the 14th stage he went to the last mountain stage of the Giro d' Italia, with over 14 minutes ahead of the eventual winner Charly Gaul, but he lost before the final climb to Monte Bondone more than five minutes, so that the virtual guide to the runners-up Fiorenzo Magni. When the driver reached the foot of the rise, it began to snow, which soon rose to the rise to a snowstorm. Fornara sought shelter in a farmhouse and was eliminated as 45 others of the 89 starters from that day.

In 1957 he was again able to win the Tour of Switzerland and also be placed in the Giro and Vuelta as each roller in the top 10 and 1958 he won the last time the Tour de Suisse. In 1959, he won jointly with Pierre Brun rail competition Prix Dupré - Lapize.